PM Barzani: Over 2 Million Now Receive 24-Hour Electricity in Kurdistan Region Through 'Runaki' Project
PM Masrour Barzani announced that 2 million people in the Kurdistan Region now have 24-hour electricity under the KRG’s ‘Runaki’ project, with full coverage expected by end-2026. Over 2,100 diesel generators have been retired, lowering emissions and household energy costs.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced on Tuesday that two million people across the Kurdistan Region now have access to uninterrupted electricity as part of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) 'Runaki' initiative. "2 million people across the Kurdistan Region now enjoy 24-hour electricity through the KRG’s Runaki initiative. It will reach every home and business by the end of 2026," PM Barzani wrote on the social media platform X.
2 million people across the Kurdistan Region now enjoy 24-hour electricity through the KRG’s Runaki initiative.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) July 9, 2025
It will reach every home and business by the end of 2026. pic.twitter.com/BTTOKyRiY8
The Ministry of Electricity of the KRG issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the project's expansion, noting that over two million citizens—approximately 30% of the Region's population—now benefit from the initiative. The ministry added that most residents in the cities of Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaimani currently receive 24-hour electricity. The coverage also includes Erbil's 150-meter ring road and Sulaimani's 60-meter ring road.
The ministry emphasized that the achievement marks a significant step toward delivering continuous and more affordable electricity while contributing to a cleaner environment in the Kurdistan Region.
According to recent KRG survey data, a total of 2,055,000 citizens and 544,000 subscribers are currently benefiting from the 'Runaki' project:
City Breakdown:
Erbil: 1,375,000 citizens; 354,000 subscribers
Sulaimani: 504,000 citizens; 140,000 subscribers
Duhok: 176,000 citizens; 50,000 subscribers
As a result of the 'Runaki' project, more than 2,100 diesel generators in urban neighborhoods have been decommissioned. The KRG aims to retire over 7,000 such generators by the end of 2026.
Generators Decommissioned:
Erbil: 1,652 (equivalent to 285,796 automobile CO2 emissions)
Sulaimani: 202 (equivalent to 50,516 automobiles)
Duhok: 163 (equivalent to 28,199 automobiles)
Total: 2,107 (equivalent to 364,511 automobiles)
The KRG also noted that citizens paid their lowest electricity bills in May 2025, owing to new tariffs designed to protect low-income families and promote responsible electricity usage. Under these revised rates, 80% of citizens are now paying less than they did previously for both national grid power and private diesel generators combined.
Prime Minister Barzani first unveiled the 'Runaki' initiative in November 2024, aiming to provide round-the-clock electricity to every home and business by the end of 2026. On May 14, 2025, the KRG Council of Ministers unanimously approved the project. As outlined in the official plan, the city centers of Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok, and Halabja are expected to be fully covered with 24-hour electricity by the end of 2025.
