HEWLÊR-Erbil, Iraq’s Kurdistan region,— The hours of national electricity provided by the government is expected to decrease further in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region during the season of winter – at the same time that demand will increase as people look to heat their homes in the dropping temperatures – despite promises from the region’s officials to solve the issue.

Iraqi Kurdistan still suffers from electric power deficiency almost 25 years of semi autonomy and self-ruling.

The Kurdistan Region’s electricity supply to homes and businesses has now decreased to eight or nine hours a day, officials said. During the summer months, the hours of government electricity available was nearer 15 or 16. As temperatures continue to decrease over the next few days and weeks, the hours of government electricity available is expected to reduce further in the region.

Director of Electricity Distribution in Sulaimani, Salar Hasamadin, said during NRT’s Good Morning Kurdistan on Sunday, that the nine hours of electricity currently distributed to homes and businesses could be reduced if temperatures decrease further.

“There are a lot of demands for electricity in winter,” Hasamadin added. “This would therefore make the distribution of national electricity decrease further. We don’t have the electricity capacity that the people here need to cover their necessities as they don’t have kerosene.”

The electricity available to citizens has reduced to half compared to last winter, the director continued.

The electricity network is further compounded by an increase of around 30,000 electricity users per year.

However, insufficient power supply is not new in the Kurdistan Region. Residents suffering from inconsistent electricity supply have relied increasingly on neighborhood generators to make up for regular cuts in government-provided power.

Officials also blame delays in fuel shipments to power stations for the lower power supply.

The electricity issue in the Kurdistan Region has continued for the past decade despite continued efforts and promises from Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials to solve the issue.

Electricity Minister Salahaddin Babakir resigned from his post earlier this year, saying insufficient fuel and budget cuts left authorities unable to fulfill demands for power in the region and carry out a needed reform program in the Ministry.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, said in April that the government had developed a strategy to work with the private sector to tackle the region’s frequent power shortages.

“The KRG’s strategy is to pay attention to the private sector and for the private sector to undertake part of the service on behalf of the KRG, similar to what happens in the rest of the world,” Barzani said.

The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Electricity said in August that it has plans to privatize its electricity sector to help the region improve usage and distribution of electricity.

The Kurdistan Communist Party in Erbil staged a rally in September protesting plans to privatize the Kurdistan Region’s troubled electricity sector, saying it “would not be in the public’s interest.” With those households with a disposable income more able to provide for their needs, than individuals and families from lesser income backgrounds.

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank Group member, allocated $375 million USD to Mass Global Energy Sulaimaniyah in order to provide electricity to Iraq, and to the Kurdistan Region in particular.

Copyright ©, respective author or news agency, nrttv.com

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