Iraq is in advanced talks with Saudi energy company ACWA Power to launch a solar energy plant in the Najaf Governorate, Arab News reports citing the Iraqi Oil ministry.
ACWA Power according to the ministry will be tasked to set up a plant capable generating 1,000 megawatts of solar power.
The agreement is part of the Iraqi government efforts to produce energy locally and reduce its dependence on the neighboring Iran. UAE’s Masdar, also known as the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company signed last month a deal with the Iraqi government a contract to build five electric power plants using solar energy.
Per the deal, first phase will include the production and generation of 1,000 MW out of a total capacity of 2,000 MW. The value of the deal has not been revealed but Iraqi Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar earlier said it was expecting to sign contracts with Masdar until 2025, targeting the production of 10 to 12 gigawatts (GW), representing about 25 percent of Iraq’s electricity needs that exceed 40 GW.
Iraq in talks with Saudi energy company ACWA Power to build solar energy plant
