Iraq aims to double power supply by next year

Iraq plans to double its electricity supply to 12,330 megawatts (MW) by 2013 as it brings new sources of power online, the electricity ministry said on Saturday, but is still seen falling short of demand. Iraq needs investment in most of its industries after years of war and economic decline. In a country where temperatures can top 50 degrees Celsius in summer, power generation is especially crucial. The national grid supplies only a few hours of power a day to Iraqis. Sporadic electricity supply, one of the public's top complaints, was at the heart of anti-government protests last year. Total power supply, currently at 6,000 MW, is expected to reach 9,000 MW in July and 9,600 MW in August, the electricity ministry said in a statement. It said by December, capacity would be up at around 10,400 MW and would reach 12,330 MW in April 2013. Last year, the oil-producing nation managed to supply less than half of the demand, which peaked at 15,000 MW. The electricity ministry has said it plans to add 22,000 MW of production capacity across Iraq, except for the autonomous northern Kurdish region, by the end of 2015. Iraq has signed a series of projects, ranging from gas to thermal power plants, with mainly foreign firms, which are expected to help it reach these targets.