Iraq Seeks to Import Electricity Through Syria, Iraqiya Reports

By Nayla Razzouk - Mar 15, 2011

Iraq asked Syria to allow it to join a regional power grid in order to import electricity from Turkey, state-sponsored Iraqiya television said today.

The regional grid connects Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Libya and the Palestinian territories.

Iraq has been facing violent street protests demanding better living conditions and better electricity supply. The Arab country, home to the world’s fifth-largest oil reserves, is struggling to raise power supplies, which are currently at half of its domestic demand of about 12,000 megawatts.

Output has suffered from insurgent attacks and a lack of investment since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that ousted the regime of former President Saddam Hussein.

Source: Bloomberg.
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-15/iraq-seeks-to-import-electricity-through-syria-iraqiya-reports.html.