Iraq has increased its gas imports from Iran to 30-40mn m3/d (1.06-1.41bn cfd) this month, up from 10mn m3/d (350mn cfd) earlier this year, according to Ali Ahmed, CEO of the Ministry of Electricity’s Central Electricity Generation Company. Gas imports are required for power generation, with demand rising alongside temperatures.
Without Iranian gas and electricity supplies, Iraq would suffer even more crippling blackouts than it already does, but supplies have been increasingly unreliable due to Iran’s own rising demand (MEES, 17 June 2022). Western banking sanctions on Iran have also hindered Iraq’s ability to make payments. (CONTINUED - 192 WORDS)