Power outages in Iraq spark protests amid gas supply shortages

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraq has been grappling with widespread electricity shortages for several days, sparking public outcry and street protests across the country, particularly in the capital, Baghdad.  

The outages are primarily attributed to a halt in natural gas supplies from Iran, which has disrupted operations at key power plants. According to Ahmad Musa, a spokesperson for Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity, Iran’s failure to deliver 50 million cubic meters of natural gas per day—outlined in a five-year supply contract—has left Baghdad’s power plants non-operational.  

“This problem stems from fuel shortages, particularly the unfulfilled Iranian gas supply agreement,” Musa said, emphasizing the critical dependence of Iraq’s power sector on Iranian gas imports.  

Frustrated by the prolonged outages, citizens have taken to social media to voice their grievances, while demonstrations erupted in several areas, highlighting growing discontent over the lack of basic services.  

Iraq’s reliance on Iranian gas to sustain its electricity infrastructure has long been a point of vulnerability. Any disruption in supply from Iran has immediate and far-reaching consequences for the country’s energy stability, particularly during peak demand seasons.  

Efforts to address the crisis remain ongoing, but the lack of resolution has intensified pressure on the government to secure alternative energy sources and reduce dependence on imports.