Ministry of Electricity Launches Major Campaign to Remove Grid Encroachments Amidst Huge Energy Losses

The Ministry of Electricity on Friday launched a comprehensive campaign to remove grid encroachments across Baghdad and all governorates, following direct guidance from Electricity Minister Ali Saadi Waheeb to Undersecretary for Transport and Distribution, Khaled Ghazai Attiyah. This campaign, based on a Supreme Judicial Council directive, is part of the Ministry's crisis management plan. It aims to preserve generated power amidst current challenges and reduced supply hours. The Ministry disclosed current production is approximately 20,000 megawatts, contrasting with the nation's actual need of 62,000. Distribution losses, exceeding 55 percent, mean over half the produced energy is lost to encroachments and technical/non-technical waste. It also reported the national grid lost around 7,000 megawatts since recent regional events, escalating sector challenges concurrent with prevailing economic conditions. The Ministry stressed the campaign aims to protect the grid, reduce deficits, and enhance distribution efficiency, boosting system stability and improving citizen power supply. Citizens are called upon to cooperate with technical and engineering teams, observe legal regulations, and promptly install meters and settle consumption dues, supporting system sustainability, cutting losses, and upgrading service quality.