Ministry of Electricity Reveals Reasons for Halting Iran-Turkey Interconnection Lines and Gulf Link Delays Amidst Extensive Overload Removal Campaign

The Ministry of Electricity revealed details on halted external interconnection lines and announced an ongoing campaign against grid encroachments. These initiatives aim to diversify energy sources and enhance system stability. The Ministry reported progress in electricity interconnection projects with neighboring countries; some are now operational. Technical works continue in others as scheduled, supporting the grid and improving supply reliability during peak hours. Regarding the Gulf-Iraq interconnection, expected to supply 500 megawatts to the south, the Ministry noted its delay due to recent regional events and technical challenges. It clarified that the four Iraq-Iran lines, totaling 1200 megawatts, ceased operation last year over financial payment mechanisms. Similarly, the Iraq-Turkey line (Al-Jazira), which supplied 600 megawatts to the north, is also halted for financial reasons. To address bottlenecks, the Ministry is implementing projects to alleviate congestion, establish new substations, and rehabilitate/expand existing facilities. This includes installing new transmission lines, increasing operational capacities, and regular network maintenance to ensure stability and improve supply. In a related context, the Ministry launched a nationwide campaign to remove grid encroachments, significantly easing pressure on lines. The campaign led to removal of overloads exceeding 4315 megawatts in capital areas and the filing of over 440 lawsuits against violators. The Ministry affirms these measures reduce losses and extend supply hours. For summer emergency outages, the Ministry confirmed integrated contingency plans. These involve mobilizing technical staff 24/7, forming specialized rapid intervention teams, and providing necessary spare parts and equipment for swift fault resolution. It also uses complaint hotlines for citizen reports, ensuring prompt handling and continuous power flow. The Ministry urged citizens to report malfunctions and encroachments via approved complaint numbers, to expedite maintenance and hold violators accountable. Hotlines for Baghdad electricity complaints is (5608), 24/7. Specific numbers are (157) for Karkh, (158) for Rusafa, (1012) for Sadr City, and (159) for governorates outside Baghdad.