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The first Turkish power-generating ship, Karpowership, has begun operations at the port of Umm Qasr in southern Iraq’s Basra province, marking a step in efforts to address the country’s chronic electricity shortages, according to a statement by an official to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The second ship is scheduled to begin operations next week, with the two vessels together expected to supply 590 megawatts of electricity.
Iraqi Ministry of Electricity spokesperson Ahmed Moussa told Rudaw Media Network that the first Turkish power-generating ship has begun operations at the port of Umm Qasr, adding 300 megawatts to the national grid. He noted that the vessel started supplying electricity to Iraq on Sept. 9.
Two Turkish power-generating ships arrived at the port of Umm Qasr in Basra province on Aug. 21 and 23 to supply electricity to Iraq.
According to Ahmed Moussa, the second ship will begin generating electricity next week, adding 290 megawatts to the national grid.
The two Turkish ships supplying electricity to Iraq’s power grid are doing so under a 71-day agreement. BKPS, a subsidiary of Karpowership that operates a fleet of floating power-generation ships, signed the contract with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity and the Southern Region Electricity Production Company.
The spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity explained that the government will supply the diesel fuel needed to generate electricity on the two ships.
The electricity generation aims to reduce the shortfall in power supply, as Iraq currently produces between 24,000 and 25,000 megawatts, while the demand reaches approximately 50,000 megawatts.
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