Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul-Jabbar said Iraq, a major oil producer, aims to have 12GW of renewable energy generation capacity by the end of the century. The minister said the ministry has signed contracts for about 2.5GW of new solar power plants.

He believes that Arab countries need to seek a model that produces the highest energy at the lowest cost in order to have a modern economy. Renewable energy projects, especially solar energy projects, are key to achieving energy security. Replacing oil with natural gas will also help with access to cheap electricity and diversification of energy sources, Abdul-Jabbar said.

The minister pointed out that Iraq has the potential for renewable energy in vast areas, while traditional energy is concentrated only in certain areas. According to Jabbar's estimates, the country's generating capacity is around 19GW, while demand exceeds 30GW. Plans for large-scale solar power plants across the country were recently announced. Iraqi Electricity Minister Adel Karim said a 750-megawatt solar park will be built in the southern province of Muthana to ensure sufficient electricity supply in the province. Another 150 MW solar project is planned in Anbar province, the country's largest by area.Editor/XingWentao