The Kurdistan Region has launched a large infrastructure program that focuses on electricity, water, and environmental development. The plan includes a major substation project worth about 100 billion Iraqi dinars to supply national grid power to Shamamk’s agricultural plains near Erbil.
Farmers in Shamamk have faced years of unstable electricity. They relied heavily on diesel generators for irrigation systems, poultry farms, and other agricultural work. Now, the government plans to replace this system with stable national grid electricity.
According to Heman Saidmurad, Director General of Agriculture in Erbil, the Ministry of Electricity will install three 132-kilovolt substations. These will be built across eight locations in the Timar industrial zone and Shamamk area. He explained that thousands of farmers will benefit once the project is completed. As a result, power shortages that affected farming will finally decrease.
This initiative is part of the wider Runaki Project. The Kurdistan Regional Government launched this program to reform the electricity sector. So far, it has removed more than 2,500 diesel generators. In addition, it now provides stable electricity to over 2.7 million people across the region.
Demand for 24-hour electricity continues to grow. Bestun Bakr from the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources said many project owners are requesting grid connections every day. Therefore, ministries are working together to speed up approvals and expand service coverage.
Moreover, the Runaki Project aims to eliminate 7,000 diesel generators by 2026. This will reduce pollution and cut an estimated 600,000 tons of carbon emissions each year. Consequently, officials describe the project as an important environmental step.
In addition, Erbil is developing a $480 million water project. It will supply 480,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily. Furthermore, the Green Belt project will plant seven million trees by 2050.
Overall, these projects show a coordinated effort. They aim to improve services, support farmers, and build a more sustainable future for the Kurdistan Region.
