The Minister of Electricity invites the Iranian Minister of Energy and stresses the implementation of contractual obligations

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The Minister of Electricity promises a 'comfortable' summer if Iran abides by gas contracts

2022.04.19 - 00:28

 

Baghdad - people  

On Monday, Minister of Electricity Adel Karim revealed that the ministry had prepared a plan for the next four years, while setting the conditions for the Iranian side for the continued flow of gas.  

 

  

Karim said in an interview with his colleague "Karim Hammadi", and followed by "Nas" (April 19, 2022), that he "presented an ambitious plan to the Council of Ministers for four years," explaining that "this summer, and in the event that Iranian gas is available and we reach an agreement to provide us with the required quantities, it will be Better than last summer.  

  

He added, "After the fall of the regime in 2003, the available energy in Iraq was 3,500 thousand megawatts, and now the volume of production has reached 21 thousand megawatts, and we also lost 5,000 megawatts during the entry of ISIS," noting that "most of the money spent on electricity is salaries and the purchase of Iranian gas." .  

  

He pointed out that "the sums that were spent contributed to the construction of giant electric stations from Mosul to Basra, and we have a direction we put forward to the Council of Ministers, which is electronic collection to reduce consumption, and the plan we set in the ministry will bring production to more than 21 thousand megawatts."  

  

He pointed out that "in 2020, we did not pay any money to the Iranian side, as they were asking for about one billion and 750 thousand dollars, and all the money that is supposed to be paid to the Iranian side is reserved with TBI."  

  

He explained, "The Iranian side, during our meeting with them, says that their dealings with the rest of the countries was much easier than the Iraqis, as they claim that they have invading dealings with Turkey, the Sultanate of Oman and other countries, but we try as much as possible to facilitate the procedures with the TBI Bank to import the materials necessary for life," noting "More than 100 contracts were signed during the past two years, and the money was paid through the TBI Bank."  

  

Karim stressed that "our current production is 15,000 megawatts, and we have an increase in energy production over last year by about 25%, and most of the governorates have electricity supply between 23 and 24 hours a day, from before Ramadan until now, as a result of the moderation of wages in addition to the increase in energy."  

  

The Minister of Electricity added that "90% of the energy supplied to citizens is subsidized by the Iraqi government."  

  

The minister touched on the appointments file, noting that "in one of the previous governments, more than 21 thousand people were appointed, despite the fact that we have more than 21 surplus employees in the ministry.  

  

He stated that "the Iraqi government does not intend now to raise the price of collection, due to the living situation and the spread of unemployment," stressing that "all collection amounts do not exceed 4 trillion Iraqi dinars, while the ministry needs 22 trillion Iraqi dinars," noting that "the collection rate Last year, it increased from 10% to 50%, and during the first three months of this year, compared to last year, the rate of collection increased to 68%, and we aspire to reach the 80-90% edge.  

  

And he indicated that "in Iraq, we have one million housing units that exceed the national network, and most of them do not pay any amounts to the ministry," adding that "the ministry's plan includes the establishment of 5 thermal power stations and it will be completed within 5 years. After 2003, we were supposed to leave everything to the private sector."  

  

On the German company "Siemens", and the reality of political and international pressures not to contract with it, Karim said: "Siemens' prices are very high and its dealings with the ministry is difficult, as they do not give maintenance to any other companies, unlike other companies that provide maintenance supplies for free," explaining. Also, Siemens does not have any offices in Iraq, only representatives in Iraq. There is no pressure on the company, and I challenge any party to prove that there is governmental or international pressure on this."