Iraq Targets 12 GW Renewable Energy by 2030

Iraq is fast-tracking its clean energy ambitions with plans to generate 12 GW of renewable power by 2030, according to Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani.

In a strategic move to avoid swelling the budget deficit, the government is funding solar power projects through a crude-for-infrastructure barter model.This approach, which trades oil instead of relying on the federal budget, has attracted global players like TotalEnergies, which is developing a 1 GW solar power project in Basra. The first 250 MW are expected to come online by the end of 2025.

“Our goal is to reduce fossil fuel dependence and address the growing electricity demand, especially in southern Iraq,” said Abdul Ghani. “We’re linking key oil facilities to solar sources and collaborating with the Electricity Ministry on a national renewable energy plan," he added.

The minister also confirmed that Iraq’s first solar power plant will be operational before year-end. The push toward renewables is part of a broader strategy to cut emissions, stimulate investment, and tap into global carbon markets.