Iraq Assigns Official to Oversee Removal of Illegal Power Connections

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Electricity Minister Ali Saadi Vehip has assigned a ministry official to directly oversee operations to remove illegal connections across Baghdad and all other cities, the ministry said. Current electricity production stands at approximately 20,000 megawatts while actual demand reaches 62,000 megawatts. Distribution network losses exceed 55 percent, meaning more than half of the energy produced is lost to illegal connections and non-technical losses. The national grid has lost roughly 7,000 megawatts since recent regional developments. The operation aims to protect the grid, reduce the imbalance between production and demand, and improve distribution efficiency. The ministry called on citizens to comply with legal regulations.