Iran Press/ Middle East: Iraqi officials have confirmed any halt to gas imports from Iran would create a power outage crisis in the country. Power outages last summer were partly responsible for several days of unrest in the port city of Basra.
“Stopping Iranian gas after the deadline will create a real power crisis. We need more time … the Americans are completely aware of how desperately we need Iranian gas,” an Iraqi official was quoted as saying on Wednesday, according to Press TV.
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The announcement came after the US embassy in Iraq said last Thursday that Washington had given Baghdad 45 days to stop purchasing gas and electricity from Iran.
Iran is currently exporting about 7 million cubic meters per day of gas to Baghdad.
Iraq has extensive trade ties with Iran and heavily depends on Iranian natural gas imports for electricity generation.
Basra in southern Iraq was hit by violent protests which spread to other cities this summer, partly because of a halt of Iranian electricity exports.
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Iran is currently Iraq's top trade partner, with annual turnover standing at about $12 billion, according to Iraqi officials.
The two neighbours are currently working on increasing Iranian gas flow to Sadr, Baghdad and al-Mansuriya power plants through a 270-kilometer pipeline and to Basra near the Iranian border via a separate pipeline.
Iran's gas supply to Baghdad began last June at a rate of 7 million cubic meters per day. It will increase to 35 million cubic meters daily, according to the terms of their agreement. 101/210
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