Saudi Energy Minister, Iraqi Counterpart Discuss Connecting Electricity Grids

Saudi Energy Minister, Iraqi Counterpart Discuss Connecting Electricity Grids

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Iraqi Minister of Oil Ihsan Ismail discussed on Thursday connecting their electricity grids.

The ministers explored issues of common interest in various energy fields.

The meeting discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the energy fields in order achieve shared leadership through the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council.

They also discussed the oil market and joint cooperation between their countries to support and maintain market stability and their active role within OPEC+.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq had signed a memorandum of understanding in January to connect their electricity grids.

The agreement aims to share the electricity-generating reserves and exchange electricity between the neighbors for emergency use in case of a power cut.

“We aim to achieve optimal investment in the electrical connection with Iraq,” said Prince Abdulaziz, adding that this project comes within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and its executive programs.

“The project came after a study that showed that the linkage provided promising opportunities between the two countries,” he added.