Sunday’s earthquake in Iran leads to power cuts in Iraq

By Idris Okuducu

BAGHDAD (AA) - A 6.4-magnitude earthquake that rattled Iran on Sunday has led to power outages in some parts of next-door Iraq, the Iraqi Electricity Ministry has reported.

According to a Wednesday statement released by the ministry, local electricity production was affected after Sunday’s quake ruptured a gas pipeline linking the two countries.

Three Iraqi power plants -- which produce a total of 2,500 megawatts of electricity -- have suspended operations, the ministry said, leading to power outages in Iraq’s Baghdad, Diyala and Kirkuk provinces.

The ministry provided no further information as to when the gas supply from Iran was expected to return to normal.

Since June of last year, Iraq has been importing natural gas from Iran to fuel domestic electricity production.

Iraq, which currently produces a total of 16,000 megawatts of electricity, must raise its total capacity to some 23,000 megawatts in order to satisfy public demand.

Sunday’s earthquake in Iran’s Kermanshah province, which left at least two people dead and scores more injured, was felt in several parts of Iraq.