Electricity in Iraq in 2022

In 2022, the state of electricity consumption in Iraq was heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with close to 95% of electricity generated from these sources. This included a significant reliance on gas, which alone accounted for approximately 67% of the country's electricity. Net imports contributed to nearly 3% of the electricity mix, indicating a small but notable dependence on external sources. In stark contrast, low-carbon energy sources made up just over 2% of Iraq's electricity, with hydropower being the only contributor within this category, generating close to 2.3% of the total electricity. This severe imbalance highlights a pressing need for Iraq to diversify its energy portfolio towards more sustainable options.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Iraq can take valuable lessons from countries that have successfully expanded their clean electricity sectors. France stands out with more than two-thirds of its electricity generated from nuclear energy. Iraq could similarly invest in nuclear power, which has proven to be a reliable and large-scale solution. Additionally, insights can be drawn from Denmark, which produces almost two-thirds of its electricity from wind power, indicating the untapped potential of wind energy in regions with favorable conditions. Countries like Jordan and the UAE, which have integrated solar energy into their electricity mix, demonstrate that solar can be a viable option even in countries with similar climates to Iraq. These examples highlight that a diverse mix focusing on nuclear, wind, and solar can significantly increase the share of sustainable electricity in Iraq.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Iraq primarily revolves around hydropower, but it has been quite inconsistent over the decades. In the late 1980s, there was a notable increase, with 2 TWh added in 1987. However, the early 1990s saw declines, particularly in 1991 with a drastic reduction of 1.7 TWh. A significant positive change occurred in 2005, with an increase of 5.5 TWh, marking a peak year for hydropower. Yet, this was followed by several years of fluctuations and overall declines, such as the years 2008 and 2014, each witnessing reductions over 1 TWh. More recently, from 2019 to 2022, there were mixed results with slight recoveries like the 3.1 TWh increase in 2019, but subsequent years largely saw further low reductions. These fluctuations underscore the need for Iraq to stabilize and expand its low-carbon energy generation beyond just hydropower, potentially by investing in nuclear, wind, and solar power.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources