Anbar deputy governor says parliamentary push launched to raise province's electricity quota

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Anbar deputy governor Yasir al-Muhanna said Tuesday that a parliamentary initiative has been launched to increase the province's share of national electricity supply. According to Ministry of Electricity data cited by al-Muhanna, Anbar requires around 2,700 megawatts but currently receives only 600 megawatts. Speaking at a meeting with private generator owners, al-Muhanna said the local administration has taken up the sector's problems and that the session reviewed the main challenges facing the operators, with the aim of developing comprehensive solutions. Al-Muhanna said the local administration contacted the speaker of the Iraqi parliament and Anbar's members of parliament to relay the request for an increased electricity quota to the electricity minister. He added that the current supply has caused friction between residents and private generator owners, and that diesel requirements for the generators are being coordinated with the electricity distribution company and the Ministry of Oil. According to al-Muhanna, a meeting with Anbar MPs took place two days earlier, after which the parliament speaker pledged to hold discussions with the electricity minister. No further details on the timeline or size of any quota increase were immediately available.