Iraqi MP Riyadh Adai said on Monday that the country’s electricity sector continues to face serious problems بسبب corruption and poor management, despite billions of dollars being spent over the years.
Adai said more than $70 billion has been invested in the electricity sector, an amount equal to the budgets of some countries, but the spending has not produced clear improvements in the national power system.
He explained that the electricity crisis returns every summer, leaving citizens with limited power supply and frequent outages. According to him, the main issue is no longer a lack of money, but how funds are managed, how projects are carried out, and how the sector is operated.
Adai criticized repeated government promises to improve electricity services, saying that many announced plans have failed to create real changes for citizens.
He called for long-term solutions to fix the energy sector and demanded accountability for those responsible for corruption and poor performance.
Reports indicate that Iraq’s electricity sector has suffered financial losses exceeding $150 billion, while the country continues to face a major gap between electricity production and demand. Officials estimate that Iraq needs around 60,000 megawatts of electricity, while a large portion of available power is lost through the network.
The crisis has also been linked to administrative problems, including thousands of alleged cases involving inactive employees and high annual operating costs that continue to place pressure on the country’s finances.
