Iraq’s lingering power crisis costing $40 billion a year
It will take longer than the government hopes to fix the country’s electricity problem
If the Iraqi government’s provision of basic energy to its people were to be a factor in April’s parliamentary election, you wouldn’t blame voters for just sitting at home in the dark. Generation capacity is rising and things are better than they were. But even in Baghdad and Tikrit, the two towns given preferential access to electricity under Saddam Hussein, supply is poor and brownouts common. Most of Iraq still doesn’t have adequate connection to the dilapidated grid. Outside Kurdistan, only Iraqis rich enough to afford a private diesel-fired generator can guarantee a full day’s supply. On top of the violence and terrorism still hurting parts of the country, the lack of electricity provis
Also in this section
20 February 2026
The country is pushing to increase production and expand key projects despite challenges including OPEC+ discipline and the limitations of its export infrastructure
20 February 2026
Europe has transformed into a global LNG demand powerhouse over the last few years, with the fuel continuing to play a key role in safeguarding the continent’s energy security, Carsten Poppinga, chief commercial officer at Uniper, tells Petroleum Economist
20 February 2026
Sempra Infrastructure’s vice president for marketing and commercial development, Carlos de la Vega, outlines progress across the company’s US Gulf Coast and Mexico Pacific Coast LNG portfolio, including construction at Port Arthur LNG, continued strong performance at Cameron LNG and development of ECA LNG
19 February 2026
US LNG exporter Cheniere Energy has grown its business rapidly since exporting its first cargo a decade ago. But Chief Commercial Officer Anatol Feygin tells Petroleum Economist that, as in the past, the company’s future expansion plans are anchored by high levels of contracted offtake, supporting predictable returns on investment
