Gas production halts at Iraq's gas field after drone attack; 2.8 gigawatts of electricity gone
Khor Mor gas field of Iraq. Photo: Courtesy Al Jazeera
Following a drone attack on the important Khor Mor gas field in Iraq's Kurdistan region, nearly 2.8 gigawatts of power generation will be lost from the country's national electricity grid. The attack has cut off gas supply to several power plants, raising fears of major disruption to electricity supply across the country.
Omid Ahmed, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Electricity, confirmed 'Kurdistan 24' the news. He said that after the attack, gas supply remains cut off to power plants in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Bazian, Chamchamal, and Dohuk.
He further said that the Ministry of Electricity has taken alternative measures to prevent a complete shutdown of electricity supply across the country. The hydroelectric plants at the Dukan and Derbendikhan dams are being brought into operation. Alongside this, power plants capable of running on alternative fuel are also being utilized.
According to Omid Ahmed, their priority now is to keep electricity supply running to critical facilities such as hospitals and water supply stations.
Earlier, smoke and flames were seen around the Khor Mor gas field located in Sulaymaniyah province of the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq. Sanad, the fact-checking agency of news outlet Al Jazeera, confirmed the authenticity of the video related to this.
In the video published by Iraqi media, thick smoke and massive flames were seen rising from around the gas field. A drone attack launched from an unknown source caused an explosion at the gas field. Gas production stopped there immediately afterward.
Source Al Jazeera
