Iraq, UAE’s Masdar to build 5 solar power plants in new clean energy push

Iraq, UAE’s Masdar to build 5 solar power plants in new clean energy push

RIYADH: The UAE and Iraq signed on Wednesday a contract to build five electric power plants using solar energy, Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported. Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (Masdar) and the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity and the National Investment Authority signed the contract for the plants. The first phase will include the production and generation of 1,000 MW out of a total capacity of 2,000 MW, a statement by the media spokesman for the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, revealed in a statement. The step comes as the first stage taken by the Iraqi government to rely on alternative, clean, and renewable energies in the production of electrical energy, and to meet the country's energy needs. Iraqi Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar earlier said it was expecting to sign contracts with Masdar until 2025, targeting the production of 10 to 12 gigawatts (GW), representing about 25 percent of Iraq’s electricity needs that exceed 40 GW.