Iraq launches tender for 755MW power project
Power projects, spread across five provinces, are expected to be operational by the end of next year
Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity has launched the first round tender, inviting companies for the procurement of seven photovoltaic power projects with a combined capacity of 755MW. The projects spread across five provinces- Babel, Wasit, Karbala, Al Muthanna and Diwaniyah are scheduled for completion by the end of 2020.
According to a statement from the ministry, the largest solar parks with capacities of 300MW and 225MW will be located in central Iraq at the city of Karbala and in the province of Babylon, respectively. Two 50MW facilities will be based in Wasit, in eastern Iraq, while the governorate of Muthanna will see two projects of 50MW and 30MW- 80MW in total and the final 50MW will be at Al Diwaniyah.
The ministry announced that it will provide logistical, technical and legal services for other sites in southern and western Iraq. It also added that by the end of 2020, renewable energy will be part of Iraq’s national electricity system.
The ministry’s future vision is for Iraq to be a regional and global centre for renewable energy over the next 10 years with an integrated package which includes local manufacturing, as well.
In line with these objectives, Iraq has signed a roadmap with Siemens for the latter to develop the electricity sector in the country. According to phase one of the roadmap agreement, Siemens will be responsible for the EPC construction of a 500MW gas-fired power plant in Zubaidiya; upgradation of 40 gas turbines with upstream cooling systems; and the installation of 13 to 132 kV substations along with 34 transformers across Iraq.
And as part of the electrification scope, Siemens will donate a smart health clinic, a $60 million software grant for the Iraqi universities, and train more than 1000 Iraqi’s in vocational education.
Regarding the tender process, no further details have been released.
