Power cuts spark protest in Iraq's Basra as demand outstrips supply

BASRA, Iraq — Residents in the central al-Hussein neighborhood of Basra staged a protest on Wednesday over repeated power outages, blocking roads and burning tires. The demonstration reflects growing anger over a load-shedding system introduced as high temperatures push electricity demand above what the local grid can supply. A source told the agency that Basra's power generation stood at 3,397 megawatts against consumption of 3,665 megawatts. The shutdown of an Iranian supply line widened the shortfall, forcing authorities to supply electricity for four hours followed by two-hour cuts to prevent the network from collapsing. Protests erupted simultaneously in several districts, with the densely populated al-Hussein neighborhood at the forefront. Basra Provincial Council member Sabah al-Bazuni said the local government had refused to be included in the load-shedding system and called for urgent measures to ensure stable electricity during the summer months.