15 March، 2026
Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD) hosted His Excellency Engineer Ziyad Ali Fadhil, the Minister of Electricity, for a symposium entitled: "The Ministry of Electricity: Between Financial Crises and the Transition to Sustainable Energy." The event was held in the Sergio Vieira de Mello Hall at the Center's building in Najaf. Moderated by the journalist Mohammed al-Mumin, the session was attended by academics, researchers, and specialists, along with Ministry representatives from the Middle Euphrates governorates and several members of the media.

His Excellency the Minister addressed several significant issues, foremost among them the development of the Ministry's functions within the government program. He highlighted the Ministry's importance to the Iraqi public, noting that it is a service-oriented ministry with a direct impact on the daily lives of citizens.

The Minister delineated the Ministry's current state across three principal axes. The first pertained to the Ministry's present reality, the second centered on its future action plan, while the third encompassed the budgets and allocations designated for its operations. Each of these axes presents a unique set of opportunities and challenges. It is noteworthy that the Ministry's work is founded upon three pillars: Production, Transmission, and Distribution.

His Excellency stated that his Ministry, as a short-term objective, is working to achieve and maintain an electrical power capacity of 24,000 megawatts. He clarified, however, that Iraq's total requirement is 34,000 megawatts to ensure an uninterrupted 24-hour electricity supply, particularly during the summer season.

The Minister also spoke on a range of challenges concerning the Ministry's work and capabilities. He focused on specific difficulties, namely issues with gas supply, revenue collection, and payment evasion, especially by large-scale consumers. This is compounded by the absence of a culture of consumption rationalization. To address these obstacles, His Excellency presented his Ministry's strategies, the most prominent of which include activating the electronic meter project, investing in solar energy, engaging with specialized energy corporations, and continuing discussions with neighboring countries, particularly concerning the electrical interconnection between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

This symposium is part of the annual Ramadan evenings organized by Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD). It aligns with the Center's scientific and research activities and its commitment to deliberating on the most salient political, economic, social, and cultural issues concerning the Iraqi state.