Iraq has commenced construction of its largest solar power plant, Basra Sun, with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts (MW) in Basra province.
The solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant is one of the four sub-projects of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) developed by a consortium of TotalEnergies (45 pct), Basrah Oil Company (30 pct) and QatarEnergy (25 pct).
A report by Iraqi News Agency (INA), quoting the electricity ministry, said civil works have begun on the plant, spread over an area of 9,000 dunams (approximately 22,500 acres) in the Basra desert.
The project will comprise of four units of 250 MW capacity each, the report said.
The exact project cost wasn’t disclosed but previous media statements have pegged the total cost of GGIP overall at USD 27 bln. The other three components of GGIP include Associated Gas Upstream Development (AGUP), Ar-Ratawi Gas Midstream Project (GMP) and Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP).