The Iraqi government has announced signing a contract with Power Construction Corporation of China (Power China) to build solar power plants in Iraq with a total forecasted capacity of 2,000 megawatts on Wednesday, according to a tweet by the Iraqi government.

A Chinese expert team delivers medical aid to Iraq on March 16, 2020, in Baghdad, Iraq. (Xinhua Photo)

The tweet added that the project will help generate a capacity of 750 megawatts of electricity after the first phase is completed.

Iraq's main power grid struggles with daily power outages of up to several hours. With temperatures often reaching 50 degrees Celsius during the hot summer, power shortages would worsen as households increase use of air conditioning.

On June 2018, Power China kicked off the establishment of 730MW power plant in Rumaila, Iraq, its first Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) project in Iraq, which was invested by the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity. Once completed, it will relieve most of the electricity pressure in Basra, the second largest city in south Iraq.

Iraq is one of the first Arab countries to join the "Belt and Road" initiative. As part of the BRI framework, Chinese companies have contributed to the reconstruction in Iraq, including oil fields, power plants and water treatment plants.

Wasit Power Plant is the largest thermal power plant in Iraq that was built and is now operated by the Shanghai Electric Group, with the generation capacity equivalent to 20 percent of the Iraqi state grid.

The early power plant in Rumaila Oilfield, constructed by China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation, provides power for more than one million households annually.

Global Times