Amendment To Energy Contract: Jordan To Supply Iraq With 132kV Electrical Power

Jordan and Iraq signed the inaugural amendment to the electrical energy sales contract on Sunday, aimed at providing Iraq with 132-kilovolt electrical energy for Ar-Rutba District, addressing approximately 40 megawatts of energy needs. The signing ceremony involved the Director General of Jordan’s National Electric Power Company (NEPCO), Amjad Rawashdeh, and Iraq’s General Company for Electric Power Transmission/Central Region Director General, Riyad Oreibi, along with officials from both countries.

Following the agreement, Rawashdeh highlighted its alignment with the shared goals of establishing a joint synchronous electrical connection between Jordan and Iraq. This connection is anticipated to enhance the exchange of electrical energy, contribute to the stability of electrical systems on both sides and play a vital role in the envisioned joint Arab energy market.

Rawashdeh noted the completion of necessary technical procedures for the initial phase, with Iraq ready to receive electricity. Efforts will now focus on concluding banking procedures for the supply of around 40 megawatts to Iraq in the first phase. Simultaneously, preparations are underway for the second phase, scheduled for the third quarter of 2024.

Upon the completion of the second phase, the total capacity supplied to Iraq is expected to be between 150 to 200 megawatts. Future stages of connection could potentially increase the supply to 500 megawatts in the medium term.

The collaboration between Jordan and Iraq in the electricity sector traces back to a memorandum of understanding signed in December 2018. This agreement aimed at fostering cooperation and establishing a simultaneous electrical interconnection network. In September 2020, a contract was signed for the sale of electrical energy, outlining the supply of capacity between 150-200 MW to Iraq.

A mechanism for implementing the Jordanian-Iraqi electrical interconnection project was established in July 2021, involving the construction of a 400 KV overhead transmission line as the first stage. This line links the Al-Risha substation on the Jordanian side with the Al-Qaim substation on the Iraqi side, covering 6 km in Jordanian territory and 330 km in Iraqi territory.

The foundation stone for the project was laid in October 2022, and the subsequent phase will focus on completing the synchronous electrical connection at a voltage of 400 KV, requiring the reinforcement of electrical networks on both sides.