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Scatec renewable company of Norway has decided to quit two solar power projects in Iraq because of slow procedures in the Arab country, the local press reported on Saturday.
Iraq, OPEC’s second largest oil producer, awarded the Norwegian firm two solar power projects in 2021 with a combined output capacity of 525 MW as part of the country’s first solar energy bid round that included other known foreign firms.
In a report citing an unidentified Iraqi Oil Ministry official, Economy News network said Scatec exited negotiations for the two contracts due to delayed procedures.
“The official said that the Norwegian company decided to quit the talks because of the slow procedures undertaken by the Oil Ministry regarding the two projects,” the report said.
“Another reason is that the legislations concerning solar energy in Iraq are still unclear because such projects are totally new to Iraq and relevant legislations need time to be enacted…these reasons have pushed the company to exit Iraq.”
Iraq has also awarded solar projects to Total of France, the UAE’s Masdar and Acwa Power of Saudi Arabia as part of a drive to boost renewables’ share in the energy mix and slash energy imports from nearby Iran .
(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)
