For millions across the Middle East and North Africa, electricity isn’t just a convenience—it’s a lifeline. Yet, as the winter of 2026 unfolds, both Iraq and Egypt have found themselves wrestling with a surge of power outages, sparking frustration, urgent government action, and renewed debate over energy security. The recent blackouts in Baghdad and Greater Cairo have exposed the vulnerabilities of aging infrastructure and the challenges of keeping the lights on in two of the region’s most populous countries.
On January 9, 2026, the Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ahmed Mousa, announced the completion of the first phase of a major electrical grid expansion project in Baghdad and surrounding provinces. According to Dijlah News, this project covers more than four stations and is designed to reduce the frequency and severity of power outages. Speaking in a televised address, Mousa explained, “The electrical grid projects are progressing well with significant efforts in maintenance and restoration across all provinces.” He emphasized that the grid system had reached a capacity of 5,000 megawatts from the total power generation, with no blackouts reported in the southern and western regions. This, he claimed, was a testament to the ministry’s ongoing expansion and maintenance efforts.
Yet, the sense of progress was tempered by a major setback. Mousa revealed that the national grid had lost approximately 5,000 megawatts of production capacity due to a complete halt in imported gas supplies, especially affecting the southern and central regions. This disruption coincided with a drop in temperatures, amplifying the impact. “The national system lost about 5,000 megawatts of its production due to the complete halt of imported gas supplies,” Mousa explained, noting that some power generation units could only operate on gas, while others were forced to switch to alternative fuels, which are less efficient. The ministry, he said, was coordinating closely with the Ministry of Oil to secure alternative fuels, but technical efficiency remained lower compared to natural gas.
Despite these challenges, Mousa assured the public that the Ministry of Electricity was pursuing a four-pronged strategy to mitigate the effects of the gas shortfall. These measures include accelerating maintenance on units scheduled to enter service in the summer, ensuring continued coordination with the oil ministry to secure alternative fuel, conducting load management maneuvers, and relying more on locally produced gas in provinces with stable electricity supplies. “The ministry is working on several tracks, including speeding up maintenance, securing alternative fuel, conducting load management, and using locally produced gas to reduce the damage,” Mousa stated.
As of early January, the total electricity production in Iraq hovered between 18,000 and 18,500 megawatts, far short of the actual demand, which Mousa estimated at around 40,000 megawatts. Even with the grid expansion, a significant gap remains. Nevertheless, the minister expressed hope that imported gas supplies would resume soon, thanks to ongoing talks with Iranian counterparts. Mousa also highlighted the ministry’s broader vision: “The ministry has a comprehensive vision for the advancement of production, transmission, and distribution sectors.” He outlined plans to invest in domestic gas, end the flaring of associated gas, diversify energy sources, and roll out smart grid technologies—already piloted in four provinces and set for expansion in selected areas of Baghdad—to better manage high consumption and prevent overloads.
Citizens, meanwhile, were urged to do their part. Mousa appealed to Iraqis to conserve energy and report any sabotage or theft targeting the grid, warning that such actions contribute to the deterioration of vital network components. The ministry, he stressed, is committed to ongoing campaigns to remove illegal connections and organize power loads to ensure a more stable supply. “We call upon citizens to rationalize consumption and remove violations from the network, which cause its components to deteriorate,” he said, reaffirming the government’s resolve to enhance the grid and reduce outages.
Across the border in Egypt, the new year brought its own electricity woes. On January 9, 2026, a significant power outage struck the northern part of the country, plunging parts of Greater Cairo into darkness. The Egyptian Ministry of Electricity confirmed that the outage had affected the northern grid and disrupted power supply to several neighborhoods in the capital. According to BBC News, the blackout lasted for approximately three hours before electricity was restored to the affected areas. During this period, some hospitals and critical infrastructure in Greater Cairo experienced disruptions, sparking public concern and calls for accountability.
President Mohamed Salah—who, in a striking coincidence, shares his name with the football superstar—convened an emergency meeting with the Minister of Electricity and other officials to assess the situation and its impact. The government moved quickly to reassure the public, with the Ministry of Electricity announcing an investigation into the cause of the outage and pledging that steps were being taken to prevent a repeat. “The Ministry is investigating the cause of the outage and has reassured citizens that measures are being taken to prevent future incidents,” reported BBC News. President Salah underscored the urgency of upgrading the nation’s electrical grid, emphasizing that reliable power is crucial for both daily life and economic stability.
The Egyptian government has since accelerated projects aimed at strengthening the electrical grid and enhancing power reliability nationwide. These initiatives, officials say, are part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s infrastructure and ensure that the kind of widespread blackout seen in January becomes a thing of the past.
Both Iraq and Egypt are no strangers to power shortages. In Iraq, decades of conflict, underinvestment, and sabotage have left the grid fragile and prone to breakdowns. The country has long relied on imported gas—primarily from Iran—to fuel its power plants, making it vulnerable to supply disruptions. The government’s push to invest in domestic gas and smart grid technologies reflects a recognition that energy independence is key to long-term stability. In Egypt, rapid population growth and urbanization have put immense pressure on an aging grid. The recent outage in Cairo, though resolved relatively quickly, served as a stark reminder of the need for ongoing upgrades and robust contingency planning.
Despite the challenges, both governments have signaled their determination to tackle the electricity crisis head-on. In Iraq, the expansion of the grid and the focus on maintenance and restoration have already led to a significant reduction in outages compared to previous years. In Egypt, the swift response to the Cairo blackout and the commitment to infrastructure investment suggest that lessons are being learned—and acted upon.
For ordinary citizens, however, the proof will be in the power supply. As the winter chill lingers and demand for electricity remains high, Iraqis and Egyptians alike will be watching closely to see if their governments can deliver on their promises and keep the lights burning bright.
