Halabja Joins 'Runaki' 24-Hour Electricity Project
The Kurdistan Region's 'Runaki' project expands to Halabja, aiming to provide 24-hour electricity to 100,000 citizens and retire 300 generators.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Implementation of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) landmark ‘Runaki’ project has officially begun in Halabja, with officials announcing a five-day period of scheduled power outages to allow for essential grid upgrades that will eventually provide 24-hour electricity to 100,000 citizens and retire 300 private generators.
The Halabja General Directorate of Electricity announced to Kurdistan24 on Tuesday that a team from the Brok Cast company, which is implementing the project, arrived in the province to begin maintenance on feeders, power lines, and the installation of smart meters.
According to the Director General of Halabja Electricity, the work will last five days, until July 19. During this period, all government institutions and homes will be without national electricity from 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM. He noted that the entire province will be converted to the Runaki system in a single package, enrolling 25,000 households. The official told Kurdistan24 the team was supposed to arrive sooner but faced its own technical delays.
The work in Halabja is the latest expansion of the ambitious ‘Runaki’ (Lighting) initiative. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced the project has already provided two million people across the Kurdistan Region with uninterrupted 24-hour electricity. "It will reach every home and business by the end of 2026," PM Barzani stated.
According to KRG data previously reported by Kurdistan24, the project has benefited over 544,000 subscribers and led to the decommissioning of more than 2,100 private diesel generators in Erbil, Sulaimani, and Duhok, significantly reducing carbon emissions.
The expansion of the Runaki project is particularly noteworthy as it comes despite significant economic challenges and recent acts of terrorism that have specifically targeted the oil fields and energy sector of the Kurdistan Region. This continued investment and progress in the face of such adversity highlights what officials see as unprecedented determination to advance a vital public service.
The project has also garnered international praise. The U.S. Consulate General in Erbil recently called the initiative a “vital step forward,” stating, “We’re proud to see U.S. companies like GE Vernova supporting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s energy security,” as reported by Kurdistan24.
As outlined in the KRG’s official plan, the city centers of Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok, and now Halabja are expected to be fully covered with 24-hour electricity by the end of 2025.
