Protesters burn tires during a demonstration in Basra, Iraq, Saturday, June. 11, 2022.
photo: AP Photo/Nabil al-Jourani
People in Basra and Dhi Qar took to the streets over frequent power outages.
Dozens of Basra residents took to the streets and blocked several main roads between the area of Kiziza, Zuber and Baghdad, Iraqi media reported.
In Dhi Qar, protesters blocked the Olive Road in Nasiriyah, citing electricity problem and saying that they worsen every summertime.
Electricity was cut for the third time in southern Iraq's Basra, Maysan, Ziqar and Wasit provinces last night, provinces with globally record high tempratures, due to the failure of the Zuber power plant, and a fire in part of the plant caused by overload.
On Friday, Iraqi electricity spokesman Ahmad Musa said to high pressure and heat caused an explosion at a 132-KV substation at the Basra power plant, causing general blackouts in most southern provinces.
Simmering temperatures have obliged Iraq’s to use more energy than any other time in a year, putting large burdens on power plants across Iraq. A rapidly increasing population and slow update at power infrastructure has made power outages more frequent in Iraq.
Although, Iraq announced some major stepping at linking its electricity infrastructure with the Gulf’s, and importing electricity to fill its domestic needs, yet power outages are common across the country.