Renewable Energy Masdar’s Iraq solar power projects gain traction after long delays By Nadim Kawach May 7, 2025, 12:51 PM Unsplash/Md Mahdi As well as Masdar's plans, Acwa Power intends to build a solar plant in Najaf 1,000 MW capacity planned Masdar building four plants Contracts yet to be signed Plans by Masdar to build 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power parks in Iraq may now be accelerated after languishing for four years, the official Iraq news agency reported. Also known as Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, the government-controlled company agreed in 2021 to build four plants in various parts of Iraq but no contract has yet been signed despite several rounds of negotiations. Masdar executives and the Iraqi Electricity Ministry held a virtual meeting this week and agreed to speed up the project, the news agency reported. Electricity minister Ziad Fadhil discussed “ways to speed up an agreement to buy energy produced by the plants to be built by Masdar and to remove the hurdles blocking the execution of the project,” the agency said. The ministry’s information office said in a statement on Facebook this week that Masdar would build the solar plants in three Iraqi governorates; a 450 MW plant in the southern Dhi Qar governorate, a 350 MW plant in the western Al-Anbar governorate and two plants in the southeastern Maysan province with a capacity of 100 MW each. Officials have suggested that the obstacles to progress have been centred around the terms of the government’s purchase of electricity from the projects. Chinese company to build solar plant in Oman freezone GWC and Yellow Door to build Qatar solar power plants Kuwait to build solar power plants by next summer Iraq has also been locked in negotiations with Acwa Power of Saudi Arabia for the construction of a solar power park in the central city of Najaf, with a capacity of 1,000 MW. Iraqi officials said in February that they had already signed a purchase contract with the company. Iraq, a founding Opec member, has awarded contracts to several international companies over the past two years for the construction of solar parks with a combined generating capacity of 7,500 MW as part of a drive to tackle persistent electricity supply shortages. Register now: It’s easy and free AGBI registered members can access even more of our unique analysis and perspective on business and economics in the Middle East. Why sign uP Exclusive weekly email from our editor-in-chief Personalised weekly emails for your preferred industry sectors Read and download our insight packed white papers Access to our mobile app Prioritised access to live events Register for free Already registered? Sign in I’ll register later Register now: It’s easy and free AGBI registered members can access even more of our unique analysis and perspective on business and economics in the Middle East. Why sign uP Exclusive weekly email from our editor-in-chief Personalised weekly emails for your preferred industry sectors Read and download our insight packed white papers Access to our mobile app Prioritised access to live events Register for free Already registered? Sign in I’ll register later
