Based on the guidance of wise leadership, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy, and His Excellency Ihsan Abdul Jabbar, Minister of Petroleum of Iraq, signed an executive protocol on the principles of an agreement on the interconnection of electrical networks between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Iraq, pursuant to a memorandum on understanding signed between the two parties in early 2022.
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy, praised the role of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, in accelerating the electrical connection with brotherly Iraq, which is a confirmation of the ongoing cooperation in all fields, especially in technical fields, and also expresses the desire of the two countries to strengthen economic relations between them in such a way that it meets the aspirations of the leaders and peoples of the two countries, and to ensure the speedy implementation of the project on earth.
His Highness indicated that the completion of this project comes within the framework of the Kingdom’s 2030 vision and its executive programs, which focus on investing in the Kingdom’s strategic position and the nature of the Saudi electricity grid, which is the largest in the Middle East. and the Arab world to make the Kingdom a regional power grid connection.
The MoU signed with the Republic of Iraq and the electrical connection project are the result of a comprehensive and detailed study carried out by the joint technical group of the two parties. .
In addition to what the two countries will gain from the fruits of this project, the work to connect the power grids between the Kingdom and Iraq will be a step towards expanding opportunities to create a regional electricity trading market and support the participation of the two countries in it. .
It is worth noting that the signing of the report is in pursuance of what was stipulated in the memorandum of understanding regarding the electrical connection, as well as the necessary procedures related to the conclusion of agreements on electrical connection between the Saudi Electricity Company and the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity. represented by General Company for Electricity Transmission / Central Region in Iraq has completed a 1,000 megawatt, 400 kilovolt electric link between the two sides, which will connect Arar and Yusufiya near Baghdad, with a length of about 435 km.