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14h ago

Iraq Inaugurates First Utility-Scale Solar Plant in Karbala Desert

Officials cast the 300 MW project as the launch point for a 12,500 MW solar buildout to ease severe power shortfalls.

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Overview

  • The Karbala facility was inaugurated in mid-September as Iraq’s first industrial-scale solar project feeding the national grid.
  • Planned peak capacity is 300 megawatts, with tens of thousands of panels spread across roughly 4,000 dunams in the al-Hur area.
  • The government cites a solar pipeline of about 12,500 megawatts, including a 225 MW plant under construction in Babil and a 1,000 MW project slated for Basra.
  • If completed, officials say the pipeline could cover roughly 15%–20% of national demand, though purchase rates under the contracts have not been disclosed.
  • Iraq currently produces about 27,000–28,000 MW against peak demand of 50,000–55,000 MW, with around 8,000 MW fueled by Iranian gas as the U.S. ended a waiver for direct power purchases from Iran in March while allowing gas imports to continue.