Gas transmission fault triggers brief power outages across Kurdistan Region

ERBIL — A technical fault in natural gas transmission lines supplying power stations caused temporary electricity outages in parts of Erbil, Duhok and Sulaymaniyah governorates on Monday, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Electricity.

In a statement, the ministry said the issue affected sections of the national electricity grid after a disruption in gas flows to generation units. Maintenance teams were dispatched immediately, and power supplies were expected to return to normal within a few hours.

The outage comes as the Kurdistan Region continues to expand the Runaki electricity modernization project, launched on Oct. 17, 2023, which aims to provide 24-hour electricity and reduce reliance on neighborhood diesel generators. The project has so far delivered round-the-clock power to more than 4 million residents across the region. Electricity shortages had long been a persistent challenge in the Kurdistan Region before Runaki, where state-supplied power has historically dropped to as little as eight to 10 hours per day during peak summer and winter demand. To fill the gap, neighborhoods relied on privately operated diesel generators, typically installed on street corners.

The Runaki project draws on existing energy sources, including natural gas from fields such as Khor Mor gas field and hydroelectric power generated at dams including Dukan Dam and Darbandikhan Dam, as the regional government works to stabilize supply and modernize the grid.