Electricity ministry forms central emergency team to address summer power demand

BAGHDAD — Electricity Minister Ali al-Saadi ordered the formation of a central emergency operations room Saturday to address summer electricity challenges and prepare for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, expected to fall on August 3 or 4 this year.

The emergency committee includes representatives from production, transmission and distribution sectors, with an urgent action plan focused on monitoring electrical loads and improving the readiness of stations, transmission lines and distribution networks.

The move comes as electricity supply hours have declined across several governorates since the start of summer, driven by reduced Iranian gas imports, lower domestic production and disruptions linked to the regional conflict. Iraq relies on Iranian gas for more than 30% of its electricity generation, but imports collapsed after strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field in March. Oil production also fell sharply as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz cut off southern export routes, reducing associated gas output.

Iraq’s grid faces its greatest strain during summer months, when temperatures regularly exceed 50 degrees Celsius. Public protests over power cuts have repeatedly broken out in southern governorates during previous summers. Arbaeen draws millions of pilgrims to Karbala annually and places additional pressure on electricity infrastructure in the city and along pilgrimage routes.