Solar panels arrive in Iraq for TotalEnergies 1,000 MW project

Baghdad – In an effort to help the Iraqi government address the electricity issue, TotalEnergies has shipped solar panels to Iraq to start the construction of a significant solar energy project.

The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, revealed on Thursday the arrival of over 126,000 high-efficiency solar panels at the Shams Basra solar energy project site in the Artawi field, the state news agency (INA) reported.

The solar panels are expected to be installed as part of the $820 million project being carried out by France-based TotalEnergies to generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity.

As part of a $27 billion deal, TotalEnergies is carrying out four large projects in southern Iraq, including the solar power plant. These projects include utilizing associated gas from several locations and expanding output from the Artawi field.

According to Fadel, the solar project is one of the biggest renewable energy initiatives in Iraq and will help fulfill the country’s rising energy consumption, particularly during peak hours.

On Wednesday, 18 containers carrying the high- and medium-voltage cables required for the electrical system came with a shipment of about 160 containers of solar panels purchased from the top foreign manufacturers.

The project is anticipated to provide clean energy to the electrical system of the southern Iraqi province of Basra, improve its stability, and create new opportunities for investment in Iraq’s renewable energy industry.