Private generator owners in Baghdad shut down operations in protest

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Owners of private generators in Baghdad have begun shutting down their machines across the city in what they describe as a protest action over working conditions and pricing. The operators said they decided to stop running their generators to press their demands, with the shutdown affecting numerous neighborhoods in the capital. The impact was felt most directly in areas that already experience frequent public power cuts. Baghdad's private generator sector has become a primary source of electricity for households and businesses in recent years, as the public grid has struggled to meet demand. Sector representatives said rising costs and regulatory pressure had left them unable to sustain operations, prompting the action. The operators said the shutdown would continue until their demands are met. It remained unclear whether authorities would issue a response.