The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has announced a major milestone in its energy sector, declaring that more than half of the Region’s population now enjoys uninterrupted, 24-hour electricity.

Kamal Mohammed Salih, the KRG Minister of Electricity, described the development as a “major turning point” for the Region, crediting the success of the project to the leadership of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.

“With the support of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, we were able to implement reforms in the electricity sector and build a robust infrastructure,” Salih said. “These efforts laid the foundation for both the smart meter program and the continuous power supply initiative.”

According to the minister, the ninth cabinet resolved one of the Kurdistan Region’s most persistent challenges in less than a year, ahead of its original timetable. The sweeping reforms included the construction of hundreds of new substations, expansion of high-pressure electricity networks, restructuring of contracts, increased power generation, and the installation of smart meters designed to curb illegal connections and improve efficiency.

Currently, four million citizens — more than 50% of the population — are benefiting from full-time power. This includes the major cities of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Halabja, along with surrounding areas. Over 115,000 commercial establishments have also been connected to the upgraded system.

Halabja Governorate became the first in both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq to achieve 24-hour power coverage.

The project has also led to the closure of more than 3,222 neighborhood generators, long relied upon to supplement power shortages. Salih emphasized that eliminating these generators brings “enormous benefits for the health and safety of citizens.”

In addition to health and environmental gains, the initiative has eased financial pressures. “Now, 80% of the people are paying less for this electricity than what they previously paid for generators,” Salih noted.