Importing the gas includes building the infrastructure and this will take at least a year to 15 months, depending on the agreement. This needs to happen because Iraq cannot continue to “rely on one source for gas.” Iraq imports Iranian gas and electricity to plug power shortages, but supply from its neighbor has been intermittent due to technical and financial problems. Iran cut or reduced gas and electricity supply to Iraq last year and in recent months, prompting Iraq to look for alternatives such as Qatari gas. Iraq didn’t receive any gigawatts last summer and current gas supply is 8 MMcf/d. One issue is the lack of penalties in the contract in case of non-supply, Karim added. The electricity ministry has also signed agreements to import power from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and the grid of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council via Kuwait. GCC countries include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE
Importing the gas includes building the infrastructure and this will take at least a year to 15 months, depending on the agreement. This needs to happen because Iraq cannot continue to “rely on one source for gas." Iraq imports Iranian gas and electricity to plug power shortages, but supply from its neighbor has been intermittent due to technical and financial problems. Iran cut or reduced gas and electricity supply to Iraq last year and in recent months, prompting Iraq to look for alternatives such as Qatari gas. Iraq didn't receive any gigawatts last summer and current gas supply is 8 MMcf/d. One issue is the lack of penalties in the contract in case of non-supply, Karim added. The electricity ministry has also signed agreements to import power from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and the grid of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council via Kuwait. GCC countries include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE
Iraq may import Qatari gas in 15 months if talks, infrastructure finalized
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