ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian gas exports to Iraq have not resumed nearly three weeks after they were temporarily halted for pipeline repairs, amid a nationwide gas shortage. “Iran has not yet started exporting gas to Iraq,” Iraqi Electricity Ministry spokesperson Ahmad Abadi told Rudaw on Saturday. Twenty days ago, Iran said it was suspending gas exports for 15 days in order to do some repairs to export pipelines. The stoppage knocked 5,500 megawatts off of Iraq’s national grid. Abadi said they have been informed by the Iranians that the repair work is not complete. “Electricity production in Iraq is below 15,000 megawatts,” he said. This has significantly reduced the available power supply. Iraq’s national grid has depended on gas imports from Iran for years. When the national grid cuts out, customers turn to costly, environmentally damaging private generators. The extended suspension of exports comes as Iran is experiencing an energy shortage. The government has asked consumers to lower their home heat by two degrees in order to save on electricity. This could save 50 to 60 million cubic metres of gas crucially in time for a cold front forecast to hit the country on Sunday, according to the Iranian oil minister. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
