Najaf hands over land for 1,000MW solar project

NAJAF — Najaf authorities have handed over the first plot of land to the Ministry of Electricity for a solar power project with a planned capacity of 1,000 megawatts, with production expected to begin within six to eight months of implementation starting, officials said.

Abdul Hussein al-Shibli, energy adviser to the Najaf governor, told state-run newspaper Al-Sabah that the investing company will begin work “in the near future,” with electricity to be fed directly into the national grid. “This will allow Najaf governorate to benefit from it directly and contribute to improving the electricity situation and reducing outage hours, especially during peak periods,” he said. Electricity tariffs will not change, with the state bearing any difference in production costs.

Shibli said the project comes as Iraq’s electricity sector faces heavy reliance on imported gas, making it vulnerable to supply disruptions. The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers has initiated the formation of a “national effort” team to accelerate the transition to alternative energy sources, with solar power the priority.

Najaf was among the first governorates to respond, preparing multiple land plots in coordination with agricultural and state property authorities. Legal and administrative procedures, including approvals from relevant entities and Investment Commission licenses, are being completed to enable similar projects across the governorate’s districts.

Iraq’s solar sector has moved from planning to operational projects, with a 1,000MW plant already in service in Basra and a 300MW station in Karbala, alongside an initiative to equip 353 government buildings with solar systems.