The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity announced today, Sunday, the gradual restoration of electricity in the southern provinces of Iraq, after a power outage that lasted for several hours amidst temperatures exceeding 49 degrees Celsius. The Ministry of Electricity stated in a report covered by the official news agency (WAA), that electricity generation units were activated, and energy transmission lines that were disconnected due to emergency incidents were reconnected.
The ministry confirmed that the electrical system continues to improve its loads and production gradually, following the resumption of its generation units and the reconnection of energy transmission lines. On Saturday, the ministry announced that electricity was cut off in the southern provinces due to "sabotage work" that targeted the "Salah ad-Din thermal - Haditha" transmission line and a fire that broke out at the "Bakr conversion station" in Basra.
The ministry added that "efforts are currently concentrated at the National Control Center, and electricity is being gradually restored to the areas following the isolation of the emergency incidents," without specifying the names of the provinces that had their power restored.
The ministry had announced yesterday that "a fire broke out at the (Bakr conversion station) in Basra, leading to the separation of connections in the southern region and resulting in the complete blackout of the system due to sabotage." Iraq has been suffering from a chronic electricity shortage for decades due to consecutive wars and the lack of stable security conditions in the country.
The population's discontent with the government increases during the summer due to the frequent power cuts coinciding with rising temperatures, reaching 43 degrees Celsius in some areas and sometimes exceeding 48 degrees. Iraq produces between 19,000 and 21,000 megawatts of electricity, while the actual demand exceeds 30,000, resulting in repeated power outages amid protests from residents.
