GE Vernova, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity ‘energise’ 5 new substations

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In a significant boost for Iraq’s electricity infrastructure, the country’s Ministry of Electricity (MoE) has partnered with GE Vernova to announce the early completion and energisation of five critical substations across the country.

Completed in less than two years, these substations are part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing grid stability and efficiency, while enabling interconnection with Jordan’s electricity grid.

The five new 132 kV substations — Al Hindia, Al Sader, Al Qaim Saada, North Baqubah, and Yaramja South — mark a major milestone in Iraq’s efforts to improve its energy network.

Notably, the North Baqubah and Yaramja South substations were delivered six months ahead of schedule, having been completed in August and September 2024.

Construction at the Rasafa Center substation is nearing completion, with energisation expected soon.

Four additional substations — North Najaf, North Karbala, North Diwaniya, and Aredo — are slated for completion by summer 2025.

Once all ten substations are operational, the Iraqi transmission system will have the capacity to transmit an additional 2,200 megavolts-ampere (MVA) of power, sufficient to supply electricity to approximately 300,000 households, or about 1 million people.

Iraq’s Minister of Electricity, Ziad Ali Fadhil, emphasised the importance of this collaboration with GE Vernova, stating that it is crucial for modernising the national electricity grid. “These five substations, completed ahead of schedule, are a key milestone in our efforts to enhance grid stability and meet the growing demand for electricity,” he said. He highlighted the commitment of the MoE teams to achieving tangible results in improving the power supply.

Johan Bindele, leader of GE Vernova’s Grid Systems Integration business, praised the project’s impact. “Our advanced substation solutions are stabilising the grid while accelerating Iraq’s transition to a more reliable and sustainable energy future,” he noted.

Grid modernisation is part of GE Vernova’s strategy

Rasheed Janabi, president of GE Vernova in Iraq, reiterated the company’s dedication to addressing Iraq’s energy needs. “This grid modernisation milestone is part of our comprehensive strategy to deliver reliable, lower-carbon power for current and future generations,” he stated, acknowledging the essential role played by Iraqi team members from both GE Vernova and the MoE in these projects.

GE Vernova has been instrumental in bolstering Iraq’s power infrastructure, having built and energized a total of 30 substations in the last decade, including five 400 kV substations in key locations.

The company has supplied advanced equipment from its facilities across Europe and the Middle East, including gas-insulated substations and high-voltage transformers, installed by local engineers.

In addition to modernising the grid, GE Vernova has contributed up to 19,000 megawatts of power generation capacity, mobilised over $3bn in financing for energy projects, and invested in workforce training initiatives.

The company is also collaborating with the MoE to establish a Monitoring and Diagnostics Center to enhance operational efficiency and support local talent development.