TotalEnergies starts building Iraq’s largest solar plant
Baku, March 7, AZERTAC
France’s TotalEnergies has started constructing Iraq’s largest solar power plant as part of a $27 billion energy deal it signed in 2023, according to Arabian Gulf Business Insight.
The plant, based in the southern oil hub of Basra, has a production capacity of 1,000 megawatt (MW) and includes installing two million solar panels, the official news agency said, citing an Electricity Ministry statement.
“This is the largest solar power plant in Iraq. It is part of plans to diversify the country’s energy supply sources,” the statement said.
1,000MW can power around 800,000 households per month.
The French energy major holds 50 percent stake in the project, while QatarEnergy retains the remaining 50 percent.
Iraq’s agreement with TotalEnergies in mid-2023 includes the development of a number of oil and gas fields in Southern areas, the construction of a solar power plant and a seawater desalination station with a capacity of five million barrels per day.
The company has also committed to helping Iraq end the long-standing practice of gas flaring that has contributed to a sharp shortage in natural gas supplies needed to operate some of the Opec member’s power facilities.
The initial phases of solar power and associated gas projects are targeted to be completed in phases between 2025 and 2027.
Officials said in late 2024 that TotalEnergies would invest heavily in the development of the Ratawi oilfield in the Basra Governorate to produce 80,000-90,000 barrels per day (bpd), which will be increased later to around 210,000 bpd.
The Iraqi Oil Ministry has reported that Ratawi, with estimated proven reserves of nearly 10 billion barrels, contains light crude, which is in “high demand in global markets”.
Last month, British oil company BP finalised an agreement with the Iraqi government to redevelop four oil and gas fields in the northern Kirkuk region. The company is expected to invest up to $25 billion in the project over its lifetime.
Under its target of reaching 12 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy by 2030, Iraq has also awarded other solar power contracts to a number of foreign companies, including Abu Dhabi-based Taqa and Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power, for the construction of seven plants with a combined capacity of 7.5GW.
