Iraq tells US still needs Iran’s gas, electricity

Baghdad, May 7, IRNA - Iraq's Power Minister Luay al-Khateeb has said in response to US demand to cut oil and gas imports from Iran that his country will need them for at least three years. Talking to Iraqi media outlets on Monday, he reiterated that Iraq will need two or three years to achieve self-sufficiency in the field, which will be possible only if big projects are implemented. “Iraq has told the Americans it currently needs to import gas and electricity from Iran, as it is importing close to 1,200 megawatts of electricity as well as gas for generating 2,800 megawatts of electricity from the country,” he said. If the big projects are executed within the next two or three years, 'we will need no imports from Iran', he said. This is for several times that the Iraqi officials are reiterating that it is now impossible to cut imports from Iran. Earlier, Iraqi oil minister Thamer al-Ghazban referred to improbability of cutting gas and power imports from Iran under current juncture. Iraq is seeking self-sufficiency in various spheres including electricity and gas, but it takes several years, he said. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish