“Iraq is not insisting on importing Iranian gas, but it is forced to do so due to the lack of alternative options,” Hassan Hafidh told Rudaw, adding that Iran’s geographic proximity to Iraq and existing pipeline infrastructure make it the most practical supplier.
On Sunday, the US rescinded a waiver that permitted Iraq to purchase electricity from Iran as part of President Donald Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran, which also aims to drive Tehran’s oil exports down to zero.
With the waiver gone, Baghdad is scrambling for alternatives, which Hafidh said “are very limited.” He added that the Kurdistan Region does not have enough production capacity to meet Iraq’s gas needs and cannot serve as a substitute for Iranian gas.
“Gas produced from the Khor Mor fields does not even meet the Kurdistan Region’s full local needs,” Hafiz explained. “The estimated production is 600 million cubic feet, primarily used for electricity generation within the region. However, this amount remains insufficient to fully cover local demand.”
Iraq relies heavily on Iranian gas imports to operate its power plants, but these supplies have been irregular. Iran suspended gas exports for weeks during the winter due to domestic shortages, exacerbating Iraq’s chronic electricity crisis.
Although Iraq has no immediate replacement for Iranian gas, Hafidh pointed out that there are alternatives to offset the decline in Iranian oil exports, pointing to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
In an effort to secure its energy future, Baghdad is accelerating efforts to capture and utilize its own natural gas instead of flaring it. The government is also exploring new import options, including supplies from Jordan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan, and investing in renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on gas imports.
After the waiver was rescinded, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani led a meeting with the oil and electricity ministries and looked into ways to increase the country’s electricity production.
On Saturday, Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi told Rudaw that Baghdad had all necessary preparations in place in case the UK revoked its waiver.
A US State Department spokesperson told Rudaw on Sunday that Washington is hoping that the Iraqi government will start benefiting from the natural gas capabilities of the Kurdistan Region to reduce its dependence on Iranian gas.
