KRG's Transformative 'Runaki' Project Expands, Bringing 24-Hour Power to New Districts and Gaining International Acclaim

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) landmark "Runaki" project is continuing its ambitious expansion across the region, with the district of Qushtapa becoming the latest area to achieve full 24-hour electricity and the Raparin Independent Administration now actively preparing for its own integration in early 2026.

This tangible progress, part of a strategic vision to end a 35-year-old power crisis, has already provided uninterrupted electricity to nearly four million citizens, fundamentally reshaping daily life, cleaning the environment, boosting public health, and earning praise from international partners as a model of successful governance.

A New Milestone in Qushtapa and Preparations in Raparin

In a significant achievement for the initiative, the district of Qushtapa in Erbil province has officially been receiving 24-hour electricity for the past three days, making it the first district to be fully covered by the project. Speaking to Kurdistan24 correspondent Hoshmand Sadiq on Sunday, Bzhar Mulla Khedr, the district mayor of Qushtapa, hailed the development. 

"We are happy to announce that the district of Qushtapa, including all its villages, centers, industrial zones, and factories, is the first district to receive 24-hour electricity," he stated. "This comes thanks to the project of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, like most of the other strategic projects that the Qushtapa district has benefited from."

The district mayor provided detailed statistics on the project's impact, noting that a total of 12,845 subscribers have benefited from the service, including 9,920 residential homes, 1,450 agricultural operations, 180 industrial facilities, and hundreds of commercial and governmental subscribers.

He also confirmed that the transition has allowed for the complete shutdown of 37 private diesel generators within the town's borders, a move that will have a significant positive impact on the local environment. Highlighting the government’s strategic, sequential approach to infrastructure development, Mulla Khedr linked the success of the electricity project to the next major undertaking for the district.

"After electricity, it's water's turn," he said, explaining that the first phase of a major water project for the city center will be completed by mid-September, with the second phase reaching all surrounding areas by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, in the Raparin Independent Administration, preparations are well underway for the arrival of the Runaki project.

According to follow-ups by Kurdistan24, electricity repair teams have launched a comprehensive reform campaign on the electricity network in the center of Ranya city.

This work includes the repair of transformers and feeders to ensure the national grid is robust and problem-free ahead of the winter season. This maintenance is also a crucial preparatory step for the implementation of the Runaki project, which is scheduled to reach the administration's borders at the beginning of February 2026.

 The General Directorate of Electricity Distribution of Ranya has informed citizens in a statement that the reform work will necessitate daily cuts to the national electricity supply in some neighborhoods, advising residents to use their own power generators during these times.

A Landmark Achievement for the Kurdistan Region

Launched by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in November 2024, the Runaki project was conceived to permanently solve the problem of electricity shortages and associated environmental pollution that has plagued Iraq and the Kurdistan Region for over three decades.

The KRG’s ninth cabinet has set a clear goal: by the end of 2026, the entire Kurdistan Region will have 24-hour electricity.

The progress made in less than two years has been remarkable. In a major announcement on August 28, 2025, Prime Minister Barzani confirmed that the centers of Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok, and Halabja had all been connected to 24-hour electricity ahead of schedule.

He particularly highlighted that Halabja had become the first province in both the Kurdistan Region and all of Iraq to achieve full, uninterrupted power.

According to the latest statistics from the KRG Ministry of Electricity, the project's reach is extensive, with nearly 50% of the Kurdistan Region's population now benefiting from the service.

A Revolution in Environmental and Public Health

One of the most profound and immediate impacts of the Runaki project has been on the environment and, by extension, public health. By providing a reliable national grid, the project has enabled the decommissioning of thousands of noisy, polluting neighborhood diesel generators.

According to official figures, more than 3,200 such generators have been shut down across the region, leading to a massive reduction in harmful emissions and a tangible improvement in air quality.

Total generators shut down in the Kurdistan Region after the implementation of the Runaki project

As previously reported by Kurdistan24, this environmental cleanup has been scientifically verified.

The Kurdistan Region's Environment Board confirmed that levels of hazardous fine particulate matter like PM2.5 and PM10 in Erbil have fallen to less than half their previous levels, increasing atmospheric visibility from six kilometers to a much clearer eight to ten kilometers. 

This has been complemented by a campaign that shut down 85 unlicensed oil refineries in Erbil province.

The health benefits are expected to be significant. Dr. Hardi Jawad, director of Nanakali Hospital for Oncology, told Kurdistan24 that by eliminating the carcinogenic smoke from thousands of generators, the Runaki project "will have a very positive impact on reducing the number of cancer patients in the future."

Economic Relief and Educational Advancement

The project has also brought substantial economic relief to households.

A progressive tariff system was introduced to protect low-income families while encouraging responsible energy use. Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, has previously stated that around 80% of households now pay less for electricity than they previously did for the combined costs of the national grid and private generators.

This was echoed by citizens like Waleed Ibrahim, an Erbil resident who told Kurdistan24 his total bill is now less than half of what he used to pay for the generator alone.

The project's synergistic effects are perhaps most evident in the education sector. KRG Minister of Education Alan Hama Saeed explained to Kurdistan24 that reliable electricity has unlocked unprecedented potential in schools.

"If we wanted to install a smart board in a school, which we couldn't do before because of electricity, we can now do that," he stated, adding that teachers can now routinely use modern tools like data shows. He framed the initiative as part of a "strategic trinity" of KRG projects, alongside the MyAccount digital salary initiative and major water supply projects, that are collectively modernizing the educational environment and improving student well-being.

International Recognition and a Model for Iraq

The success and strategic importance of the Runaki project have not gone unnoticed by the international community.

During a meeting in Erbil on Sunday, the newly appointed U.S. Consul General, Wendy Green, praised the KRG’s reform projects, specifically highlighting the significance of the Runaki program and the MyAccount digital initiative. This acknowledgment from a key international partner lends further credibility to the KRG's governance and its ambitious infrastructure agenda.

Prime Minister Barzani has underlined that reliable electricity is a foundation for social welfare, economic growth, and environmental health.

With the project on track to meet its goal of covering every home and business by the end of 2026, he has also extended an offer of cooperation to the federal government.

"We are ready to assist other parts of Iraq in providing 24-hour electricity," he stated, positioning the Kurdistan Region not only as a success story but as a potential model for solving one of Iraq’s most enduring challenges.