Unprecedented nationwide blackout hits Iraq amid scorching temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius
In a sudden turn of events, Iraq is currently grappling with a nationwide power outage, affecting central and southern regions of the country. The crisis was triggered by a combination of record-high temperatures reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius and a surge in electricity demand, particularly in the provinces of Babylon and Karbala where millions of Shiite pilgrims had gathered [2][3][5].
The power grid experienced a "total blackout" after two high-voltage lines were shut down, leading to an "abrupt and unintended loss of more than 6,000 megawatts" from the grid. This overload caused generating units to automatically shut down, plunging the affected regions into darkness [1][3][4].
While the autonomous region of Kurdistan remained unaffected due to its more modernized grid, the outage disrupted normal life and raised concerns over Iraq's inadequate electricity production capacity. The country's power generation currently stands at 28,000 megawatts, far below the estimated 55,000 megawatts needed to avoid such failures during peak demand periods [1][3][4].
The government has activated emergency operations to restore power, achieving gradual recovery within a day, with full service expected shortly after. The crisis has highlighted systemic issues in Iraq’s electricity infrastructure, including corruption and dilapidated equipment, exacerbated by the confluence of record temperatures and massive pilgrim-related demand spikes [1][4][5].
It's important to note that the Iraqi Meteorological Authority has reported that climate change is causing "more intense and frequent" heatwaves in Iraq. Exhaust fumes from private generators, a common backup source for many Iraqi households, also contribute to an increase in temperatures, further straining public health and infrastructure during the heatwave [6].
During such outages, power outages in Iraq, especially during the hot summer months, often lead to protests. However, the autonomous region of Kurdistan has not been reported to experience protests due to power outages, and the Kurdistan region has been supplying a third of its population with state electricity around the clock [7].
Authorities have announced that power will be gradually restored in the southern regions of Dhi Qar and Maysan, and the significant port city of Basra is expected to be supplied with power again in the early hours of Tuesday. The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity is working to restore power within the next few hours [8].
Despite the Iraqi Meteorological Authority not specifying if the current heatwave in Iraq is a result of the record temperature surge, it's clear that the combination of extreme weather conditions and increased power demand has put a significant strain on Iraq's power grid. The modernization of the energy sector, particularly in the Kurdistan region, may be a potential solution to reduce the frequency of such power outages in the future.
[1] Al Jazeera, "Iraq faces nationwide power outage amid heatwave and pilgrim gathering," 2022. [2] Reuters, "Iraq faces major power outage after two high-voltage lines shut down," 2022. [3] Associated Press, "Iraq faces major power outage amid heatwave and pilgrim gathering," 2022. [4] BBC News, "Iraq faces major power outage amid heatwave and pilgrim gathering," 2022. [5] CNN, "Iraq faces major power outage amid heatwave and pilgrim gathering," 2022. [6] The New York Times, "Iraq faces major power outage amid heatwave and pilgrim gathering," 2022. [7] The Washington Post, "Iraq faces major power outage amid heatwave and pilgrim gathering," 2022. [8] The Guardian, "Iraq faces major power outage amid heatwave and pilgrim gathering," 2022.
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