ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Saturday said that 2027 "will be a year of doubling electricity production," directing the electricity ministry to maintain a domestic production capacity of 30,000 megawatts and to import tens of thousands of megawatts of additional energy from abroad.

“Next year, 2027, will be a year of doubling electricity production and distribution capacity, representing a significant step towards changing the reality of electricity in Iraq,” Zaidi said, according to a statement from his office.

Iraq plans to generate 12,000 megawatts from renewable sources by 2030, aiming to ease pressure on the national grid. On peak summer days, demand may reach over 55,000 megawatts while supply remains substantially lower, highlighting the urgent need for new solutions.

During a visit to the ministry, Zaidi directed Electricity Minister Ali Saadi Wahib to maintain a domestic production capacity of 30,000 megawatts and purchase 15,000 megawatts from the US company General Electric (GE), 12,000 from solar energy, and 10,000 from thermal energy.

The premier also directed that electricity be directly purchased from neighboring countries to increase capacity.

Zaidi also “emphasized the need to double efforts, combat corruption, and submit an urgent study for supplying power plants of various types, ensuring a significant improvement in electricity supply during the upcoming summer,” the statement added.

Iraqi security forces on Friday detained an undersecretary for the electricity ministry, as the government continues to clamp down on corruption.

“A security force belonging to the Federal Integrity Commission detained the electricity ministry’s undersecretary for transmission and distribution affairs Khalid Ghazai Attiya,” Iraqi state media reported on Friday, citing sources.

The report did not clarify on what grounds the arrest was being carried out.

Attiya’s official job title is “senior chief engineer,” and he has held multiple high-ranking positions within the Iraqi electricity ministry since his appointment in 1998.

His arrest comes amid a renewed crackdown on corruption suspects by the Iraqi government under Zaidi.