Mustafa Al Kadhimi, former Prime Minister of Iraq, is credited with having a game-changing impact on the Iraqi energy sector. Having come to office at a critical moment in Iraqi history, with his administration grappling the multi-pronged problem of economic decline, political paralysis and the COVID-19 pandemic, Moustafa Al Kazemi’s ambitious ‘White Paper’ for economic reform provided a blueprint for reducing the country’s economic dependence on oil, establishing Iraq as a leading Middle Eastern innovation hub.
Throughout his tenure, Mustafa Al Kadhimi strived to rebuild and support Iraq’s energy sector following decades of conflict, security challenges, corruption and poor planning. Prime Minister Al Kadhimi’s forward-looking approach included ambitious plans for development of Iraq’s clean energy industry, with the country entering into an agreement with China to establish a series of solar power plants.
Under the patronage of Prime Minister Al Kadhimi, an agreement of principles was concluded between Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity and the Chinese company Power China, paving the way for the creation of several 2000-megawatt solar power plants across Iraq. Maha Hamoudi Abdul Jabbar, Iraq’s Director General of the Department of Investments and Contracts, signed the agreement, alongside Li Dazhi, Power China’s Undersecretary General.
The first project of its kind in Iraq, the solar energy project will boost electricity production in the country significantly, providing homes and businesses with clean, renewable energy. The signing of the agreement was also attended by Adel Karem, Undersecretary of Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity for Production Affairs, and Jui V, Vice President of the Power China company.
In July 2020, Prime Minister Moustafa Al Kadhimi directed reactivation of suspended electricity projects, as well as authorising the supply of free fuel to charge private generators. In a statement, the Prime Minister cited electricity shortages as one of the most important challenges faced by his administration, noting that past periods had seen billions of dollars spent on the sector, which should have been ample to build modern electrical works. Nevertheless, as the Prime Minister pointed out, corruption and financial mismanagement had led to an electricity crisis in the country that continued to affect citizens, particularly throughout the summer months.
Prime Minister Al Kadhimi cited a failure of the previous ministry to carry out adequate electricity maintenance projects as exacerbating the problem of electricity shortages, an issue further compounded by a slump in global oil prices in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the Iraqi government’s mission of reducing dependence on foreign gas, Prime Minister Al Kadhimi opened a 750-megawatt power plant in Maysan Governorate. Mustafa Al Kadhimi expressed his government’s support for the energy sector through the signing of a series of solar power contracts, underscoring the government’s commitment to supporting this area and bolstering the electricity sector as well as civil generators.
In a speech at the opening of the Maysan Power Station, the Iraqi Prime Minister cited the new plant as a qualitative addition to the country’s national network. Mr Al Kadhimi acknowledged that Maysan Governorate would reap the rewards of the new energy infrastructure first but affirmed that all governorates would benefit in the long run, highlighting the facility’s critical role in the national electricity grid. In addition to the new electricity station in Maysan, the Al Kadhimi administration opened a swathe of power stations in the preceding months, including facilities at Samarra, Muthanna and Nasiriyah. Prime Minister Al Kadhimi highlighted the complexity of these new stations, which have been created to be more environmentally friendly, reducing energy waste by driving down heat emissions.
Mustafa Al Kadhimi crystalised the Iraqi government’s commitment to addressing domestic energy shortages through the implementation of far-reaching plans. Prime Minister Al Kadhimi’s ambitious strategies were designed to advance the reality of Iraq’s energy industry, putting an end to all corruption and inequities in this vitally important sector.
