Iraq Facing Electricity Crisis This Summer Due To Iran War

  

The Iran War is having far reaching affects upon Iraq. The latest is a looming electricity crisis. This is caused by a cut in Iranian natural gas exports to Baghdad as well as a decline in its own gas production.

 

In the coming month demand for electricity will jump to around 55,000 megawatts as the summer heat begins. The Electricity Ministry said it hopes to reach peak output at that time which is 30,000 megawatts. The government is never able to meet the people’s needs but this year it may be far worse.

 

The first is that the country’s oil production is way down. That’s because the Strait of Hormuz which is Iraq’s main export route remains closed due to the Iran War. Natural gas is captured at the nation’s oil fields so when output goes down for one it leads to the same reduction in the other. The Electricity Ministry said that gas production is below half of what it was before the conflict.

 

The government is talking about using alternative fuel to power its electricity plants but not all of them can be converted.

 

The second issue is that Iraq remains dependent upon unreliable Iranian gas imports. The war has disrupted this even more. Iranian gas has gone from 55 million cubic feet per day down to just 15 million. The government has already cut 3,500 megawatts of production as a result.

 

The combination of these two factors will mean that the Electricity Ministry will likely struggle to meet even half of public demand for power. That will mean more blackouts and public anger.

 

SOURCES

 

Buratha News, “Ministry of Electricity: Power cuts will continue during the summer due to low production and increased demand,” 4/21/26

- “Ministry of Electricity: Regional events are affecting equipment and gas supplies, which do not exceed 15 million cubic meters,” 4/26/26

 

Kurdistan 24, “Blackouts Loom for Iraq This Summer as Domestic Gas Collapses and Iranian Supply Falls Short,” 4/23/26

 

Salem, Amr, “Iraq plans to generate 30,000 megawatts of electricity in summer,” 4/23/26

- “Iraq’s electricity generation reduced by 3,500 megawatts,” Iraqi News, 4/6/26