Residents of Kirkuk, Iraq, have access to only six hours of electricity from the national grid per day. As temperatures rise and consumption increases, the grid's availability has dropped significantly.
Private generator operators announced that they provide residents with up to 18 hours of electricity per day, but are experiencing major problems with gas supply. The operators stated that the local administration supplies only 45 percent of the gas needed to run the generators, emphasizing that this situation leads to financial and operational difficulties.
Operators noted that they often have to purchase additional fuel on the black market to maintain service, and acknowledged that the voltage provided by private generators also remains below the required level. Low voltage is reported to damage household appliances and negatively affect daily life.
More than 400 private generators operate across Kirkuk. Last month, generator owners purchased gas at a subsidized price of 200 Iraqi dinars per liter, but said that the allocated amounts have become insufficient due to prolonged national power outages. Operators stated that with subsidized gas falling short, they have been forced to turn to the black market, which has multiplied costs.
The electricity crisis stands out as one of the public service problems Kirkuk has faced for years. As the city struggles with infrastructure and service issues, successive Iraqi governments have yet to find a solution to these recurring crises affecting residents. Insufficient infrastructure investment and political instability are causing the problem to become chronic.
