Abu Dhabi’s Masdar signs agreement to develop solar projects in Iraq

Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company Masdar announced on Thursday that it has signed a strategic agreement with the Republic of Iraq to develop five solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the country with a combined capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW).

Masdar has signed an implementation agreement with Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity and the National Investment Commission to develop the following projects:

• 450-megwatt (MW) plant in the Dhi Qar governate in southern Iraq;
• 100 MW and a 250 MW plant, both located in Ramadi in central Iraq;
• 100 MW plant in Mosul in the north;
• a 100 MW plant in Amarah in the southeast

We are delighted to announce the signing of an implementation agreement with the Republic of #Iraq to develop five #solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in the country with a combined capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW). pic.twitter.com/8s2qTlHZT3

— Masdar (@Masdar) October 7, 2021

In June, Masdar had announced the signing of heads of agreement with the Ministry of Electricity and the National Investment Commission to develop projects in Iraq with a minimum total capacity of 2 GW, a statement said.

Iraq, the second-largest oil producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is looking to increase the percentage of renewables in its total power production capacity to 20-25 per cent by the end of the decade to address supply issues and meet climate objectives. The country ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change this year.

Suhail Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for the UAE, said: “This agreement represents an important step forward in relations between the UAE and Iraq and will support Iraq’s efforts to achieve its clean energy and climate change goals.

“The renewable energy sector is seeing rapid growth as clean technologies prove their economic viability.”

“This agreement strengthens the already powerful bond between the UAE and the Republic of Iraq, and will facilitate knowledge exchange between our two great nations,” added Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar. “The UAE and Iraq share a common goal to diversify the energy mix, and to take a lead on climate action. Masdar has been a catalyst for renewable energy and clean-tech innovation in more than 30 countries around the world, and we will leverage the expertise we have developed to support Iraq in its energy transition.”

Earlier this year, Masdar inaugurated the Nur Navoi Solar Project in Uzbekistan, the first successfully-financed independent power producer (IPP) solar project in the Central Asian country.

Read: Abu Dhabi’s Masdar inaugurates 100MW Nur Navoi solar project in Uzbekistan

In April, it also signed agreements to develop a utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Read: UAE’s Masdar inks deal for mega solar power project in Azerbaijan