Basra march on electricity substation demands end to power outages

BASRA — Residents of the al-Madina district in northern Basra marched to a local electricity substation Friday night to demand an end to recurring power outages, giving authorities one week to respond before launching an open-ended sit-in.

Civil activist Imran al-Basri, one of the organizers, told 964media the march began at Martyrs Square and proceeded to the al-Madina transmission substation. “Recent days have seen clear fluctuations in electricity supply to residents’ homes, causing further hardship for families,” he said. Protesters are calling for a dedicated generating station to serve northern Basra neighborhoods, which al-Basri said sit adjacent to oil fields but receive little in return. “Residents gain nothing from those fields except smoke and disease, while they continue to suffer from a lack of basic services,” he said. “Is it reasonable that oil is extracted from beneath our areas while we are deprived of electricity?”

Protester Ammar Yasser told 964media that demonstrators are calling on both federal and local governments to immediately halt scheduled power cuts. “Is it reasonable that we are in 2026 and still suffering from electricity outages?” he said, warning of further peaceful escalation if the issue remains unresolved. Another participant, Saleh Malik, said the local government must take serious action on the electricity crisis in northern Basra.

The protests reflect a broader supply crisis 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. Authorities have since explored alternatives including floating liquefied gas terminals, increased electricity imports from neighboring countries and expanded solar projects.

Private neighborhood generators remain a primary electricity source for many Iraqi households during summer, when national grid supply often declines and temperatures regularly exceed 50°C in Baghdad and southern governorates. Many families cannot afford enough generator supply to run air conditioning for extended periods.