Iraqi parliament questions new electricity minister

During Thursday's session, Iraq's Council of Representatives questioned the new electricity minister for an extended period of time about his future plans for a nation...

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – During Thursday's session, Iraq's Council of Representatives questioned the new electricity minister for an extended period of time about his future plans for a nation where thousands have protested against chronically poor services in the past several months.

Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi began by welcoming Electricity Minister Loay al-Khatteeb, but then quickly transitioned the session into an inquiry into what he would do differently than his predecessors.

Less than a week before the parliament session, in the southern city of Basra where deadly demonstrations that spread across several provinces first swelled, chanting crowds returned and were eventually dispersed with tear gas by riot police.

The public turmoil has been largely fueled by poor public services and government corruption. Electricity shortages during Iraq's broiling summers, however, remain the spark that ignites protests every year in cities like Basra.

As they raged earlier in July, former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi sacked the previous electricity minister and ordered an investigation into his role in the deterioration of power supply and distribution across Iraq.

Khatteeb, who holds a doctorate in political economy from the UK's Exeter University, described the preparation of an immediate action plan of the ministry for 2019-2020 as well as a more far-reaching energy plan that would extend well past his tenure to 2030.

A crucial part of the plan, he said, was to decrease reliance on imported electricity and step up domestic production with the assistance of international companies.

"The minister of electricity confirmed his intention to complete the plan of the ministry by mid-next month," read the minutes of the session.

As the early months of 2019 pass and temperatures steadily rise, whether or not the electricity ministry under Khatteeb will appear to the Iraqi populace any more competent than in past administrations will be seen.

Later in the session, the parliament addressed another source of national controversy as it gave the first reading of Iraq's 2019 budget.