On August 7, 2024, Dubai witnessed an important cooperation milestone between China Energy Engineering International Group and Total Energy of France – the two parties officially signed the EPC contract for the 1GW photovoltaic project in the Ratawi region of Iraq. The conclusion of this agreement marks a solid step forward in the in-depth cooperation between the two parties in the field of new energy.

As the first landmark large-scale project in the Iraqi government’s photovoltaic construction blueprint, this project not only demonstrates China Energy Construction’s deep participation in actively responding to the call for international capacity cooperation, but also reflects its firm determination to work hand in hand with multinational giants such as Total Energy of France to jointly explore overseas new energy markets. This cooperation achievement is of immeasurable significance for promoting the transformation of the global energy structure to a greener and more sustainable direction.
This 1GW photovoltaic project in Ratavi, Iraq, is located in the scenic Basra Province in southern Iraq, about 70 kilometers away from the bustling city of Basra. The project integrates the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the photovoltaic power station site and the 132 kV booster station. Its AC side power output capacity is as high as 1GW, which is large in scale.

Once the project is successfully completed and put into operation, its annual power generation is expected to reach an astonishing 2.9 billion kWh. The injection of this green energy will effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.385 million tons and contribute to the earth’s environment. At the same time, the photovoltaic project will greatly meet Iraq’s growing electricity demand and become an important pillar in its power supply system. Keywords: Belt and Road News, Belt and Road Projects, Overseas Projects.

The project brings together the strong forces of China Energy Engineering International Group, Tianjin Electric Power Construction and Southwest Institute. The three parties will work closely together to jointly promote the smooth performance of the project. It is expected that the project will officially start construction at the end of 2024 and is scheduled to be successfully completed in early 2027. During the implementation of the project, we will strictly abide by the requirements of high localization rate, actively integrate into the local society, create a large number of employment opportunities for Iraq, and promote the skills improvement and employment stability of the local labor force. At the same time, the construction of this project will also effectively drive the prosperity and development of the regional economy and inject new vitality and momentum into Iraq’s economic growth.