Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday announced in a post on X that Halabja will be the first governorate in Kurdistan to switch entirely to 24-hour electricity.
“I’m pleased to announce that Halabja is the first province to switch entirely to 24-hour electricity,” he posted on X. “Congratulations Kurdistan.
Nearly 4 million citizens across the Kurdistan Region — and over 115,000 businesses — now enjoy 24-hour electricity through the KRG’s Runaki program.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) August 28, 2025
I’m pleased to announce that Halabja is the first province to switch entirely to 24-hour electricity.
Congratulations Kurdistan. pic.twitter.com/2XJmhIjqKn
For years, the Kurdistan Region has faced frequent electricity outages. But last year, Prime Minister Barzani promised to end this and announced that 24-hour electricity will be provided to all of Kurdistan by the end of 2026 through the Runaki (light) project.
The KRG’s Ninth Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Barzani, has committed to enhancing services throughout the region and to limiting air pollution
Read More: 2.7 Million Citizens Now Have 24-Hour Power: KRG
Prime Minister Barzani on X said that nearly 4 million citizens across the Kurdistan Region — and over 115,000 businesses — now enjoy 24-hour electricity through the KRG’s Runaki program.
“That’s more than 50% of the population, achieved in less than a year since the announcement of the program in October 2024,” Prime Minister Barzani said in a separate statement.
“Runaki is not just about reliable electricity; it’s about community well-being. To date, over 3,200 neighborhood diesel generators have been shut down, making our neighborhoods cleaner, healthier, and safer for our children,” he added.
Nearly 4,000,000 citizens now on uninterrupted electricity across all four governorates. pic.twitter.com/o3ai748FE6
— Runaki (@Runaki_gov_krd) August 28, 2025
Furthermore, he states that data shows households and businesses have changed behavior and consume less. Additionally, nearly 80% of the public pay less under the Runaki program than they did for diesel generators.
“We still have work to do. Our promise stands — every home and business will have 24-hour electricity by the end of 2026,” he concluded.
Read More: Expanding 24/7 Electricity in Kurdistan Vital Step: U.S.
On July 10, the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil also welcomed the expansion of the 24/7 electricity project, describing it as vital for 2 million citizens.
“We’re proud to see U.S. companies like GEVernova supporting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s energy security,” the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil posted on X.
