Runaki Project Rolls Out Subsidized 24/7 Power Rates for Majority of Kurdistan Residents
A key feature of the Runaki Project is its affordability and wide-reaching impact, with approximately 80% of citizens expected to pay less than they currently do for electricity while gaining access to uninterrupted 24-hour power.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a major policy announcement on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesperson Peshewa Hawramani unveiled critical details of the much-anticipated "Runaki" (Light) Project, which promises to revolutionize the electricity sector across the Kurdistan Region with a sweeping public-private implementation plan aimed at economic fairness and service reliability.
Speaking at a press conference in Erbil, Hawramani emphasized that the project—initiated and directly supervised by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani—will be implemented jointly by citizens and the government. "All the people of Kurdistan will benefit from this project, taking into account the financial situation and livelihood of the people," he declared.
A central component of the Runaki Project is its affordability and broad coverage. Hawramani announced that roughly 80% of citizens are expected to pay less than they currently do for electricity while receiving 24-hour power.
The KRG plans to complete the project across provincial centers by the end of this year, with a phased expansion into other regions thereafter.
To ease the transition and ensure inclusivity, the government will subsidize early participants. "For the first three months, participants who join the Runaki Project will be supported by the Kurdistan Regional Government at rates of 15%, 25%, up to 50%, so that citizens can adjust themselves," Hawramani noted.
He added that citizens should use electricity as needed to minimize waste—a principle embedded in the project's design.
Hawramani further underscored that a high-level oversight committee, operating under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Barzani, has been established to manage the project. "The Prime Minister's supervision is to ensure people benefit at a lower cost," he said.
Positioning the Runaki Project as one of the major accomplishments of Barzani's cabinet, Hawramani described it as a milestone for public service reform and sustainable development in the Kurdistan Region.
Turning to financial matters, the spokesperson also addressed the long-standing concern over salary disbursements for public employees. "There was no reason for the federal government to delay the salaries of employees, because we had sent the salary lists to the Federal Ministry of Finance without any deficiencies for 20 days," he stated.
He voiced strong criticism of the federal budget allocations to the Kurdistan Region, indicating systemic neglect. "In the 2026 budget, we will demand our budget, because what have we been given from the investment budget? Nothing. What have we been given from the sovereignty budget? Nothing has been sent," he said. Hawramani also stated that while one million individuals have been employed nationwide under the 2023, 2024, and 2025 budgets, not a single person has been hired from the Kurdistan Region’s share.
With the Runaki Project, the KRG appears poised to reshape its infrastructure and assert its economic rights amid ongoing financial disputes with Baghdad, all while ensuring better living standards for the people of Kurdistan.