Data released by S&P Global Commodity Insights indicated that Iraq may face an escalating energy crisis in the coming months, as the amount of gas required to operate power plants has fallen to levels that cover just a small percentage of real demands, amid continuous regional instability and diminishing Iranian supplies.
According to the figures, Iraq’s current gas imports are no more than 15 million cubic meters per day; however, power plants that rely on imported gas require around 50 million cubic meters per day.
Iraq is receiving only 30 percent of its operating requirements, creating a 35 million cubic meter gas shortfall every day.
According to the statistics, the continued shortage could have a direct impact on national electricity production, especially since previous supply disruptions resulted in losses of 4,000 to 4,500 megawatts of the power produced as several gas-fired power plants were unable to operate at full capacity.
The data also showed that, while Iraq has a contract with Iran that allows it to import up to 50 million cubic meters per day, it is still far from that level due to lower Iranian shipments as a result of regional tensions that have affected some of its energy infrastructure.
Baghdad’s options are on hold. The floating platform for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Khor al-Zubair, which was anticipated to relieve pressure on the country’s grid, has been delayed until June 2027, despite being planned with a processing capacity of 500 to 750 million cubic feet per day.
The drop in supply to this level, along with delays in alternative projects and an increase in domestic demand, puts Iraq at risk of an electrical crisis over the summer season unless immediate action is taken to alleviate the rising fuel shortage.