Chinese Energy Projects Boost Iraq’s Power Grid Capacity

Expansion work on major combined-cycle power plant projects in the Iraqi provinces of Najaf and Karbala is progressing steadily, offering a significant boost to Iraq’s long-overburdened electricity network, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Earlier this year, Shanghai Electric launched construction on the Euphrates Add-On Combined Cycle Power Plant Projects across Najaf, Karbala, Babylon and Qadisiyah. The initiative upgrades existing simple-cycle gas turbine units into combined-cycle systems, adding 625 megawatts of new generating capacity.

Despite its position as a major oil producer, Iraq has grappled with chronic electricity shortages since the 1991 Gulf War. The country depends heavily on imported natural gas, leaving its power supply vulnerable to fuel shortages that impede reconstruction and economic growth.

Gao Shoujiang, executive deputy manager of the Najaf project, said the upgrade captures high-temperature exhaust from the existing turbine and routes it through Chinese-made heat-recovery boilers to generate high-pressure steam. This steam powers a new turbine generator, increasing capacity without additional fuel consumption.

Najaf project manager Naseem Ayad said Chinese energy technology is helping Iraq improve efficiency while reducing thermal pollution. “This project is a model for the country’s broader power sector upgrades,” he said, noting the public’s strong demand for more reliable electricity.

In Karbala, the companion expansion project is advancing as well. Executive deputy manager Xiong Runqiang said it is one of Iraq’s first combined-cycle projects to be built entirely with Chinese equipment and standards. All core components were designed and manufactured in China, a development expected to strengthen the global profile of Chinese industrial capabilities.

The Euphrates expansion has drawn significant attention from Iraqi officials. Electricity Minister Ziad Ali Fadel said the project will bolster the national grid, reduce reliance on imported gas and help lower fuel costs.

He Zhuang, vice president of Shanghai Electric Power Generation Engineering, said the completed upgrades will boost output from existing plants by roughly 50 percent and add about 5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to the grid each year. 

“This initiative brings Chinese expertise to Iraq’s reconstruction while laying an energy foundation for economic recovery,” he said.