Kurdistan Region Achieves Major Milestone in 24-Hour Electricity Coverage Under Runaki Program
Erbil, Kurdistan Region – July 9, 2025 – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has announced that more than 2 million citizens, roughly 30% of the region’s population, now enjoy 24-hour electricity under the Runaki program, marking a major step toward reliable and sustainable power.
The latest expansion ensures continuous electricity for most residents in Erbil, Slemani, and Duhok, including key zones such as Erbil’s 150-meter ring road and Slemani’s 60-meter ring road. As part of the initiative, the KRG has removed over 2,100 diesel-powered neighborhood generators, cutting carbon emissions equivalent to taking more than 364,000 cars off the road annually.
2 million people across the Kurdistan Region now enjoy 24-hour electricity through the KRG’s Runaki initiative.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) July 9, 2025
It will reach every home and business by the end of 2026. pic.twitter.com/BTTOKyRiY8
Thanks to a new progressive tariff system, subscribers under the Runaki program are seeing historically low electricity bills. The KRG reports that 80% of households now pay less than they previously did for diesel generators and grid power combined, ensuring affordability while encouraging responsible energy use.
Launched by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in October 2024, the Runaki program aims to provide round-the-clock electricity to every home and business in the Kurdistan Region by the end of 2026. Following its official approval by the KRG Council of Ministers on May 14, 2025, the program is on track to extend full coverage to all major urban centers—including Halabja—by the end of 2025.
