KRG Energy Minister: Gas and Electricity Production Set to Rise Amid Strategic Energy Expansion
Minister Mohammad underscored the dramatic growth of the Kurdistan Region’s power sector. “Back in 2007, electricity production was only around 100 to 150 megawatts. Today, we generate more than 8,000 megawatts,” he revealed.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — Kurdistan Region's Minister of Natural Resources, Kamal Mohammad, affirmed Thursday that the Region is poised to significantly increase gas and electricity production following the signing of two landmark contracts aimed at developing the energy sector.
Speaking during a high-level panel at the Energy Conference in Washington on May 22, 2025, Minister Mohammad stated: “According to the Iraqi Constitution and the 2007 Law of the Ministry of Natural Resources, we have signed several contracts under which the Kurdistan Region will export 400,000 barrels of oil per day.”
Gas Development to Power Electricity Surge
Highlighting Kurdistan Region’s gas potential, the Minister noted that current production stands at 650 million cubic feet of natural gas. “We signed two contracts to expand gas output, aiming to address the increasing demand for electricity across the Kurdistan Region,” he said.
He added that despite opposition from the federal government in Baghdad, the KRG is moving forward with its strategy: “The current volume of gas only meets 50% of the Region’s electricity needs. Our goal is to bridge that gap.”
From 150 to 8,000 Megawatts: A Transformative Journey
Minister Mohammad underscored the dramatic growth of the Kurdistan Region’s power sector. “Back in 2007, electricity production was only around 100 to 150 megawatts. Today, we generate more than 8,000 megawatts,” he revealed.
“Of that, over 5,000 megawatts are provided by an American company, accounting for 64% of the Region’s total electricity output,” he added, noting that part of this electricity also supplies areas in Iraq.
Strategic Ties and Energy Future in Focus
The Energy Conference, organized by the Global Monitor Institute, officially began Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Erbil time in Washington, D.C., with the participation of Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and U.S. Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright.
Both officials are scheduled to speak in separate panel discussions centered on the future of energy in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, as well as the broader trajectory of U.S.-KRG relations.
The conference marks a pivotal moment in the Kurdistan Region’s push for energy independence, regional cooperation, and economic expansion — a vision deeply anchored in the Region’s constitutional rights and long-term partnerships with international stakeholders.
