- Iraq Ministry of Electricity and GE Vernova have successfully completed and energized five critical substations ahead of schedule, part of a project to enhance grid stability and interconnect with Jordan’s grid.
- Once all 10 substations are operational, they will increase Iraq’s transmission capacity by 2,200 MVA, providing electricity to approximately 300,000 households.
The Ministry of Electricity (MoE) of Iraq and GE Vernova have announced the early completion and energization of five key substations as part of a nationwide project to enhance grid stability and efficiency. This initiative aims to energize a total of 10 substations, facilitating interconnection with Jordan’s grid and providing more reliable electricity to Iraqi citizens.
The newly completed substations, which include Al Hindia, Al Sader, Al Qaim Saada, North Baqubah, and Yaramja South, feature a 132 kV capacity. Notably, the North Baqubah and Yaramja South substations were finished six months ahead of schedule, with completion dates in August and September 2024, respectively. Construction at the Rasafa Centre substation is nearing completion, and it will be energized soon.
Four additional substations, North Najaf, North Karbala, North Diwaniya, and Aredo, are expected to be completed by the summer of 2025. Once all 10 substations are operational, Iraq’s transmission system will gain an additional 2,200 megavolts-ampere (MVA) capacity, enough to supply power to approximately 300,000 households, benefiting around 1 million people.
Iraq’s Minister of Electricity, Ziad Ali Fadhil, emphasized that collaboration with reputable companies like GE Vernova is vital for modernizing the national electricity grid, improving generation and transmission efficiency, and ensuring stability in the network. He noted that the timely completion of these substations represents a significant milestone in meeting the increasing demand for electricity.
Johan Bindele, leader of GE Vernova’s Grid Systems Integration business, stated that their advanced substation solutions are crucial for stabilizing the grid and accelerating Iraq’s transition to a reliable and sustainable energy future. Rasheed Janabi, President of GE Vernova in Iraq, highlighted the company’s commitment to addressing Iraq’s energy needs through innovative technologies and solutions.
In addition to modernizing the grid, GE Vernova has added 19,000 megawatts of power generation capacity to Iraq’s energy infrastructure and mobilized over $3 billion in financing for various projects. The company is also collaborating with the MoE to establish a Monitoring and Diagnostics (M&D) Centre, aimed at using advanced electrification software for continuous monitoring of core power assets, mitigating operational risks, and facilitating the development of local engineering talent through specialized training.