Iraq’s solar drive is getting a boost from China: The Iraqi Cabinet has approved the construction of a USD 520.2 mn 750 MW solar plant with PowerChina in the country’s southern Muthanna province, according to a statement. The first phase of the two-phase project is set to generate 250 MW of solar energy, the statement added. Iraqi Electricity Minister Ziad Ali Fadel had said in April that PowerChina was building a 250 MW solar power plant in Iraq.

It’s been a good run: The appetite for renewables in Iraq has been growing in recent months. French energy giant TotalEnergies said in April that it will develop a 1 GW solar power plant to supply the Basrah regional grid, after it sealed an agreement on a delayed USD 27 bn cluster of energy projects in the country. The French company will invite Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power to take part in the project. The growing interest came despite Norwegian renewable energy producer Scatec reportedly pulling the plug on two solar projects in the country on the back of lagging procedures and unclear legislation for solar, Iraq Oil Report reported in April.

More to come? An unnamed Saudi firm will build a 1 GW solar plant in Iraq’s Al Najaf city, Minister Fadel said in April. The ministry has already allocated land for the project, he said, without providing further details.

REMEMBER– Iraq wants to ramp up its solar energy generation: Iraq wants to produce 5 GW of solar power in 2023. The country signed solar power agreements over the past two years with several companies, lining up a total generation capacity of 7.5 GW.