Iraq’s power grid strained as domestic gas output drops

BAGHDAD — Fluctuations in electricity supply across Iraq are being driven by a sharp drop in fuel availability, with domestic gas output falling by more than half and Iranian gas supplies to the south still largely suspended, the Electricity Ministry said Saturday.

Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Mousa said reduced oil production due to the regional war has cut domestic gas output from 1,100 million standard cubic feet to around 400, affecting multiple power plants. Iranian gas remains fully cut off to southern governorates and is being delivered at only around 5 million cubic meters per day to central regions — a fraction of normal supply levels. The ministry is compensating by switching affected stations to gasoil.

Mousa said moderate spring temperatures have helped ease pressure on the grid for now, and expressed hope that gas supplies would resume and domestic output recover as oil exports through land routes stabilize. He said power plants and transmission networks are nearly fully prepared for peak summer demand, with distribution plans being finalized.

The situation reflects a compounding energy crisis. Iranian gas flows stopped entirely on March 18 after Israeli strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field knocked 3,100 megawatts offline. Supplies partially resumed before being cut again to the south in late March. Iraq normally relies on Iran for between a third and 40 percent of its electricity generation needs. It is a dependency that has become an acute vulnerability as the regional war continues with no end in sight and summer approaching.