Iraq’s government has held talks with two of the world’s leading turbine and generator manufacturers in a bid to rev up the country’s electricity generation and supply at a time of mounting public anger, particularly in the Basra area, over power blackouts and water shortages.

Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi sat down with the president of Germany’s Siemens, Joe Kaeser, to discuss the company’s proposed ‘Roadmap for the Electrification of the New Iraq,’ which promises to add 11GW of generating capacity over four years. Siemens says the plan pledges to “ensure 23 million Iraqis across the country have reliable and sustainable electricity 24/7.” (CONTINUED - 1004 WORDS)