Iraq inaugurates first large-scale solar power plant in Karbala

KARBALA, Iraq (MNTV) — Iraq has launched its first industrial-scale solar power facility in Karbala province, southwest of the capital, as part of efforts to diversify energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels amid persistent electricity shortages.

The project, developed by Al-Bilal Group for General Contracts in partnership with Egypt’s Orascom Construction Industries and Norwegian renewable energy company Scatec, is among the largest private-sector investments in Iraq’s renewable sector.

Spread across a wide desert area, the plant is designed to eventually produce up to 300 megawatts of electricity at peak capacity. Power generated will be fed into the national grid to reduce daytime fuel consumption and curb emissions.

The Karbala solar facility is part of a wider national program to boost renewable capacity. Work is already underway on a 225-megawatt plant in Babil province, while a far larger 1,000-megawatt project is planned for Basra.

Iraq currently has solar initiatives totaling about 12,500 megawatts in various stages of development, which if completed could provide nearly one-fifth of the country’s total electricity demand, excluding the Kurdistan Region.

Despite vast oil and gas reserves, Iraq faces persistent power shortages, particularly in the summer when demand surpasses 50,000 megawatts. 

Current output hovers just under 28,000 megawatts, with nearly 8,000 generated from plants dependent on imported Iranian gas — a reliance that leaves Baghdad vulnerable to supply disruptions and sanctions.