Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi confirmed on Saturday that efforts to develop the energy sector will not be affected by terrorist attacks, explaining that there are delusional forces working "by any means" to prevent Iraq from achieving energy and gas self-sufficiency. According to a statement from his media office, he said, "Terrorists and their supporters continue their attempts to disrupt life in Iraq, especially after we opened two modern and important stations in Dhi Qar and Salah ad-Din."
He clarified that the energy sector should not become a material for electoral and political conflict, emphasizing that he has directed the Oil and Finance Ministries to support the Ministry of Electricity. The Iraqi Prime Minister affirmed that work on and development of the energy sector will not stop, noting that there is a strategic plan being established based on realistic studies to sustain electricity as a continuous service for citizens.
He stated, "Our solutions in the electric energy sector rely on diversifying energy sources and achieving self-sufficiency in gas fuel or others to operate generation stations."
**Destruction and Corruption... and Pursuit**
Additionally, Al-Kadhimi pointed out that those who try to hold the current government responsible for the devastation should review themselves and their memories, as destruction and corruption have been intertwined in all sectors, with the energy sector being the most prominent. He added, "We understand the anger of citizens, and we are angry about their anger, as electricity today faces the consequences of accumulated poor planning." He assured that the crisis cell will monitor and react promptly to any violations targeting electrical energy transmission towers.
Al-Kadhimi confirmed that investigations are ongoing to pursue both small and large corrupt entities in the electricity sector, asserting that several individuals have been arrested under judicial warrants issued as a result of these investigations. This came after protests renewed on Friday in southern Iraq, in response to the scarcity of electricity during a period when temperatures exceed 50 degrees Celsius.
It is worth noting that despite the high summer temperatures in Iraq, they have recently surpassed fifty degrees, coupled with a lack of electrical flow, leaving residents unable to use cooling devices and refrigerators. Moreover, electricity was cut off in Iraq for nearly an entire day at the beginning of July. Among the reasons for the shortage that Iraqis are suffering from are aging infrastructure, rampant corruption, and recurring attacks on energy transmission networks that have not been addressed, especially as the supply line with Iran has been halted since the end of June. Authorities have stated that they are facing difficulties in collecting revenues from electricity bills, alongside increased instances of illegal electricity connections.
