KRG: 24-Hour Electricity Now Reaches Over Two Million Citizens Under Runaki Project

Peregraf

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Electricity announced that its 24-hour electricity initiative—launched under the "Runaki" (Illumination) project—now provides uninterrupted power to more than two million citizens across the region.

According to the ministry, 30% of the population currently enjoys 24-hour electricity, and over 2,100 private diesel generators have been shut down in neighborhoods in Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok, and Halabja. The government expects that by the end of 2025, the provincial centers of all four cities will receive uninterrupted power. Full coverage across the Kurdistan Region is planned by the end of 2026, with more than 7,000 neighborhood generators expected to be phased out.

Private generators, widely used during frequent electricity shortages, have long drawn criticism due to their contribution to air pollution and their link to health problems, including cancer. A previous Peregraf investigation revealed that many of these generators rely on low-quality fuel from illegal refineries, posing significant environmental and public health risks.

The Runaki Project, launched by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in October 2024, aims to provide stable, round-the-clock electricity to reduce dependency on these harmful generators. The Ministry of Electricity claims that the project has already led to lower energy costs for most households, with 80% of citizens now paying less compared to the combined expenses of national electricity and generator usage.

The KRG views the project as a critical step toward energy stability and environmental protection, with the ultimate goal of eliminating harmful generators and modernizing the region’s power infrastructure.