The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has reached another milestone in the Runaki Program. Shaqlawa and Makhmur will soon receive uninterrupted electricity. Engineers are completing the final technical work before both districts join the 24-hour power network.
The expansion will bring Erbil Governorate close to full electricity coverage. It also moves the KRG closer to its goal of providing uninterrupted electricity across the Kurdistan Region by the end of 2026.
Shaqlawa Mayor Suara Akram said engineers have completed most of the required infrastructure. He expects residents to receive continuous electricity soon. More than 10,000 electricity subscribers will benefit from the new system.
Akram also said engineers have made strong progress in neighboring Makhmur. He expects the district to join the Runaki network within days.
The project will eliminate one of the last major electricity gaps in Erbil Governorate. Every district in the governorate will receive continuous public electricity after the final connections.
The Runaki Program also reduces reliance on private diesel generators. Families and businesses will depend more on the public electricity grid. This change will lower electricity costs and improve service reliability.
Shaqlawa’s tourism sector will gain important benefits. Hotels, restaurants, cafés, and resorts will receive stable electricity throughout the year. Business owners will spend less on fuel and generator maintenance. They will also provide better services to visitors.
The Runaki Program continues to expand across the Kurdistan Region. Akre, Soran, Zakho, Koya, Semel, Pirmam, Raparin, and Garmian have already joined the project or entered the final implementation stage.
Official figures show the program now supplies 24-hour electricity to about 5.5 million people. Around 153,000 businesses also receive uninterrupted power. Officials have also retired nearly 6,000 neighborhood generators as public electricity coverage expanded.
Reliable electricity supports hospitals, schools, businesses, and government services. It also creates better conditions for private investment and economic growth. At the same time, fewer diesel generators improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has pledged to deliver uninterrupted electricity to every household in the Kurdistan Region by the end of 2026. The addition of Shaqlawa and Makhmur marks another major step toward achieving that target.
