Iraq’s power outage hit hard after a sudden drop in gas supplies at the Rumaila power station. As a result, the facility lost about 1,900 megawatts, triggering voltage collapses and disconnecting several transmission lines. Meanwhile, authorities rushed to stabilize the national grid as technical teams worked around the clock.
The Ministry of Electricity confirmed that the sudden decline in fuel supply forced multiple production units to shut down. Consequently, teams from the National Control Center and operations department began restoring transmission lines and reconnecting generating stations immediately.
Gradually, electricity returned to several provinces as plants resumed operations in northern Iraq, including Nineveh, Kirkuk, and Saladin. Deputy Minister for Transmission and Distribution Khaled Ghazai al-Maadhidi supervised the process, coordinating closely with the national control center.
Work also continues to restart stations in Baghdad and other central and southern provinces. Officials aim to fully restore stability to Iraq’s national power grid. Residents in Dhi Qar reported that the electricity supply has started returning slowly, although some areas remain affected.
According to the Eco Iraq Observatory, Iraq currently loses about $128 million per day due to halted production at Rumaila and several Kurdistan fields. Rumaila, Iraq’s largest oil field and the world’s second largest, produces around 1.4 million barrels daily. In addition, the Kurdistan Region adds roughly 200,000 barrels per day, totaling nearly 1.6 million barrels per day.
At $80 per barrel, the Observatory warns that Iraq could lose $900 million in one week and more than $3.8 billion if the shutdown continues for a month. Local sources confirmed production stopped after storage tanks reached full capacity, following regional export disruptions linked to military activity.
Furthermore, the Iraqi Army deployed units with armored support across the Al-Zubair district west of Basra to secure critical oil infrastructure. Regional tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran contributed to precautionary security measures.
Economist Mohammed al-Hasani explained that shutdowns in Rumaila, Kurdistan, and shipping disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz compound Iraq’s financial challenges. He suggested using available storage and short-term oil contracts to secure advance revenue until exports resume.
Several international energy companies responded quickly. For example, Gulf Keystone Petroleum halted Shaikan field operations, while Dana Gas and DNO also suspended activities due to regional security concerns.
Ultimately, the Iraq power outage continues to impact production and energy stability, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to regional disruptions and fuel supply issues.
