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Baghdad, Iraq — August 12, 2025
A sudden and severe power outage has paralyzed nearly all of Iraq, following an unexpected shutdown at the Hamidiya power plant that triggered widespread damage to the country’s electricity transmission network. The Kurdistan Region, a semi-autonomous area in northern Iraq, remained the only part of the country unaffected by the blackout.
🔌 Incident Overview
- Event: Nationwide power outage
- Cause: Abrupt shutdown at the Hamidiya power plant
- Impact: Disruption of Iraq’s national electricity transmission grid
- Exception: Kurdistan Region maintained power supply
📉 Scope and Consequences
The blackout has affected:
- Residential areas, leaving millions without electricity
- Hospitals and critical infrastructure, prompting emergency backup systems
- Transportation and communications, causing delays and disruptions
- Industrial operations, halting production in key sectors
🛠️ Government Response
Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity has launched an emergency investigation to:
- Assess the extent of damage to the transmission network
- Restore power to affected regions as quickly as possible
- Identify the root cause of the Hamidiya plant failure
🗺️ Kurdistan Region Exception
The Kurdistan Region, which operates a largely independent power grid, was not impacted by the outage. Its continued electricity supply highlights the region’s separate infrastructure and energy management systems.
🌐 Broader Implications
This incident underscores Iraq’s ongoing challenges in:
- Maintaining a stable and resilient national power grid
- Reducing dependence on aging infrastructure
- Implementing long-term energy sector reforms
Skyscrapers in Baghdad, Iraq During Sunset Picture by Muhamad Nabeel
