GCC Electricity Grid to Connect with Iraq by 2026

Iraq is set to receive a new source of electricity from the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) in April 2026, marking the first time the GCC’s regional power network will link with a country outside the Gulf.

The interconnection project, launched in December 2022, will supply approximately 600 megawatts to southern Iraq, helping meet growing energy demand and enabling future electricity trade under the Regional and Arab Electricity Market Framework.

The project involves constructing 400 kV double-circuit overhead lines stretching 295 kilometres from Kuwait’s Al-Wafrah Substation to Iraq’s Al-Faw Substation. The Al-Faw facility will also be expanded with circuit breakers, electrical reactors, and advanced protection and control systems. The total investment is estimated at $240 million.

The first phase will feed the southern province of Basra with up to 500 megawatts. Iraq is expected to import 3.94 terawatt-hours of electricity annually from GCC countries, which could save up to $175 million per year compared to locally produced power. The annual value of this electricity is projected at $200–300 million.

Three companies are currently building the transmission line linking Al-Faw in Iraq to Al-Wafrah in Kuwait. The project is also designed to allow seasonal adjustments, supplying two million megawatts in summer and 500,000 megawatts in winter.

GCCIA CEO Ahmed al-Ebrahim said the project is the first external link outside the Gulf and is part of a $3.5 billion ten-year plan to expand infrastructure, integrate renewable energy, and connect with other neighboring countries, including Jordan, Egypt, and potentially Syria. He added that Saudi Arabia’s goal to generate 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 will create additional export opportunities to Egypt and Europe.

The interconnection will strengthen Iraq’s electricity supply, support regional energy cooperation, and provide more reliable power for citizens and industries.