Iraq says Iranian gas supplies stop completely
Iraq’s electricity ministry said on Tuesday that Iranian gas supplies had stopped entirely, cutting between 4,000 and 4,500 megawatts from the national power grid and reducing supply hours.
Iraq’s electricity ministry said on Tuesday that Iranian gas supplies had stopped entirely, cutting between 4,000 and 4,500 megawatts from the national power grid and reducing supply hours.
“The flow of Iranian gas has stopped completely,” ministry spokesman Ahmed Mousa said, adding that some power units were shut while others were forced to cut output.
Mousa said Tehran had informed Baghdad of the halt due to “emergency conditions,” without giving further details.
He said the Iraq Electricity Ministry had switched to domestic alternative fuel in coordination with the oil ministry, and that generation remained “under control” despite the shortfall.
Iranian gas exports to Iraq had declined sharply this year after the US tightened sanctions enforcement and revoked a long-standing waiver that allowed Iraq to pay for Iranian electricity and gas imports.
Between April and August, Iranian gas exports to Iraq fell by about 40%, according to regional trade data, as Baghdad struggled to navigate sanctions while seeking alternative supplies.
Iraq’s power sector has also faced security disruptions. In November, a rocket strike forced the shutdown of the Khor Mor gas field in northern Iraq, cutting about 3,000 megawatts from regional supply.
Local Kurdish officials blamed Iran-backed armed groups for the attack, which targeted energy infrastructure critical to electricity generation.
The electricity ministry said Iraq had prepared for peak winter demand through maintenance and upgrades at power stations, and that coordination with the oil ministry would continue until Iranian gas flows resume.
