In 2017, Iran began exporting gas to Iraq (French)
Yesterday, Wednesday, the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity announced that it had signed a contract to supply gas from Iran for a period of 5 years.
The ministry said - in a statement - that its minister, Ziyad Ali Fadel, signed a gas supply contract with the National Iranian Gas Company for a period of 5 years, with pumping rates reaching 50 million cubic meters per day, and its quantities vary according to the system’s need in order to maintain the momentum of the production stations and keep pace with peak loads. And the increasing demand for electrical energy.
The Ministry indicated that "this aims to maintain the momentum of the production stations, keep pace with peak loads and the increasing demand for electrical energy, and until the rehabilitation of the national gas fields is completed and the electricity need is met."
Washington agreed to grant Baghdad new exemptions to pay Iran’s financial dues in exchange for purchasing gas exported to Iraq (Shutterstock)
Earlier this March, the US administration agreed to grant Baghdad new exemptions to pay Iran's financial dues in exchange for purchasing gas exported to Iraq to operate electrical power stations. The agreement was signed after removing the obstacles that prevented Iraq from paying its debts to Iran.
In 2017, Iran began exporting gas to Iraq, according to a contract requiring it to supply an average of 25 million cubic meters per day.
However, Iran has intermittently reduced gas exports to Iraq in recent years, in response to its severe winter gas shortages.
At times, the flow of Iranian gas stopped completely, leading to electricity crises in Iraq.
It is worth noting that Iraq relies heavily on imported Iranian gas for about a third of its electricity production, primarily to supply fuel to thermal power plants.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies