Iraq aims to convert 12m tonnes of waste to energy

• Work to start on first plant in January
• Two facilities to be built in Baghdad
• Plans for Najaf, Karbala and Basra

Iraq plans to use the 12 million tonnes of waste produced by households each year to generate electricity as it seeks to ease power shortages.

The country has relied heavily on Iranian gas imports for power, but will launch its first waste-to-energy project in Baghdad next month.

China’s SUS Environment was awarded the $500 million project in the capital this year after beating 12 other foreign bidders.

The Baghdad project will be completed within two years and will be followed by similar projects around the country, according to officials.

“Work on the project in Baghdad will start at the beginning of 2026 and will use nearly 3,000 tonnes of waste in the first phase,” Mona Al Jabri, an energy and environment adviser at Iraq’s National Investment Commission, told the Shafaq news agency at the weekend.

She said a second waste-to-energy plant would be built in Baghdad to exploit its nearly 12 tonnes of waste per day.

Iraq generates more than 12 million tonnes of waste annually, Al Jabri said, adding that the quantity is steadily rising because of population growth and urban expansion.

“Besides the two in the capital, there are now plans for four other projects in the governorates of Najaf, Karbala, Nineveh and Basra,” she said.

“We will also be working in the remaining governorates to establish waste-to-energy projects.”

Iraq, Opec’s second largest oil producer, has turned to waste and solar energy projects to tackle a sharp shortage in its power generation due to a large decline in Iranian gas supplies over the past two years.

The country has heavily relied on Iran for gas to fuel its power facilities but now expects to be self-sufficient by 2028 – when a number of gas field developments awarded to foreign firms are completed.

Officials said Iraq produced nearly 25 gigawatts of electricity in the first half of 2025 but domestic demand exceeds 30GW and could peak at 50GW in summer. The shortage is also offset by electricity imports from Iran.