The General Directorate of Dams in the Kurdistan Region announced that the Dukan and Darbandikhan dams are currently generating a combined 650 megawatts of electricity for the national grid, supported by heavy rainfall and rising water levels.
Rahman Khani, the Director General of Dams, told local media that both dams had previously stopped electricity production at times. However, this year’s strong rainfall and increased water inflow have allowed continuous generation.
He said Dukan Dam is currently producing 400 megawatts of electricity. The dam has a storage capacity of around seven billion cubic meters of water. Despite the heavy inflow, the reservoir has not yet fully reached maximum capacity and still has remaining space.
Dukan Dam, the largest in the Kurdistan Region, was built in 1959 as the first dam in Iraq. Since then, it has only overflowed twice, with the most recent event occurring in 2019.
The Darbandikhan Dam also plays a key role in electricity production and water storage. It can hold around three billion cubic meters of water and reached full capacity on April 22 this year.
Khani said Darbandikhan currently generates 250 megawatts of electricity. The dam has three generating units, but only two are operating at the moment.
Darbandikhan Dam was constructed in 1961. Since its completion, it has overflowed 15 times, with the latest overflow happening this year.
Authorities say both dams remain essential for electricity production, irrigation, and water management across the region. Their output has become especially important during periods of high water availability.
The Kurdistan Region has 25 large and small dams in total. However, officials say Dukan and Darbandikhan remain the most strategic and important facilities due to their size, capacity, and contribution to power generation and water supply.
