【环球财经】记者观察：伊拉克夏季“电荒”背后的发展短板

Core Viewpoint - Iraq is facing a severe electricity shortage exacerbated by rising temperatures and inadequate power supply infrastructure, despite its rich oil and gas resources [1][2][4]. Group 1: Electricity Supply and Demand - Over 50% of Iraq's provinces are experiencing extreme heat, leading to increased electricity demand that the current supply cannot meet [1]. - Iraq's claimed total installed power generation capacity is 40 GW, but actual peak generation capacity during summer is only about 27 GW, falling short of the peak demand of 45 GW [2]. Group 2: Structural Issues in Power Sector - The pricing of electricity in Iraq is significantly below the cost of generation, leading to a chaotic billing and regulatory system that hampers infrastructure development [3]. - In Baghdad, the national grid can only provide about 12 hours of electricity daily during summer, forcing residents to rely on expensive diesel generators [3]. Group 3: Fuel Supply Challenges - Iraq's electricity generation heavily relies on natural gas, with 20% to 25% of its power production depending on imports from Iran [4]. - The actual export volume of natural gas from Iran has fluctuated significantly, impacting Iraq's power generation capacity by at least 3,800 MW due to reduced imports [4]. Group 4: Wasted Resources and Economic Loss - Iraq is wasting a significant amount of associated gas, with flaring volumes in 2023 exceeding 17.7 billion cubic meters, accounting for nearly 12% of the global total [6]. - The economic loss from flaring is estimated to exceed $2 billion annually, and effective recovery could potentially add at least 10 GW of power generation capacity [6]. Group 5: Need for Reform - The historical exploitation of Iraq's energy resources has led to a lack of development in domestic gas processing capabilities, resulting in the inefficient burning of associated gas [5][6]. - There is a consensus among energy experts in Iraq that eliminating gas flaring and improving recovery methods is essential to alleviate the ongoing electricity crisis [6].