UK-Iraq Solar Energy Partnership Advances with 3,000MW Project
By John Lee.
Iraq's Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadhil, met with UK Ambassador Irfan Siddiq and a high-level delegation to discuss British companies' role in implementing solar energy projects and reaffirm Iraq's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement.
The delegation included Lara Hampshire, UK Director of Trade in Iraq, and Yasmin Khan, Director of Operations and Energy Trade Adviser. Talks focused on the memorandum of understanding signed last month with the UGT Renewables, a UK-US company, to develop an integrated 3,000MW solar energy project in Iraq.
The project includes battery storage systems with a capacity of up to 500MW and the construction of 1,000km of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines to enhance grid efficiency and stability.
Minister Fadhil emphasised the importance of this initiative for Iraq's national power system and praised the strong collaboration with the UK and reputable international firms. The executing company will also implement a two-year training programme and provide maintenance services using advanced D-EPC methods.
Fadhil reaffirmed the government's goal of reducing carbon emissions from the energy sector, targeting 12,000MW of solar capacity by 2030 as part of its broader renewable energy strategy.
The British delegation expressed their commitment to deepening the energy partnership with Iraq and contributing technical expertise to support sustainable development in the electricity sector.
(Source: Ministry of Electricity)
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