By: AGBI

Iraq is developing a solar power project in the central desert region as part of efforts to ease chronic electricity shortages worsened by a decline in Iranian gas imports.

The new plant will generate 300 megawatts of power from half a million solar panels, of which nearly 40,000 have been constructed.

Located in the desert in the central Karbala governorate, the project will be Iraq’s first operational solar energy installation.

According to Iraqi electricity minister Ziad Fadhil, it spans nearly 10 million square metres.

The desert project follows a one-gigawatt plant launched in Basra last week by France’s Total Energies. 

Last year Iraq’s electricity ministry set a target to expand solar power to 20 percent of the total energy mix.

Two further solar projects are expected to be undertaken by Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power company and Abu Dhabi’s Masdar, with which negotiations have been underway over the past two years.

The electricity ministry is expected to sign a contract with Masdar for four new solar plants in Dhi Qar and Al-Anbar governates, and Nineveh and Maysan provinces in the next few days for the 1,000MW project, according to local media.

Acwa Power will build a solar power park in the central Najaf city with a capacity of 1,000MW, the reports added.