Iraq seeks alternatives to Iranian gas

The country is facing energy shortfalls this summer amid reduced Iranian gas imports and difficulties leasing an FSRU

Anxiety levels in Baghdad are rising ahead of the peak summer demand period, when temperatures regularly exceed 50C. Keeping the lights on is proving a struggle, with Iranian gas imports shrinking as a result of the Islamic Republic’s need to keep more of its own gas for domestic use, while Iranian electricity imports have been hit by a US-imposed ban on payments for Iranian electricity imports. Current electricity generation capacity is running at 27–28 GW, well below peak summer demand in excess of 50GW. Iraqi officials were stung into action by US President Donald Trump administration’s ending in March of the waiver that allowed Iran to supply its neighbour with electricity. “Even i