Iraq is bracing for severe summer blackouts after the US-Israeli war choked off gas supplies from neighbouring Iran, compounding an energy crisis in the oil-rich country.
The prospect of power cuts during the sweltering summer months — when temperatures often exceed 45C and demand for cooling soars — comes as the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz cuts off most of Iraq’s oil exports, which make up 90 per cent of the government budget.
This failure to diversify has turned Iraq into one of the countries most vulnerable to the fallout from the regional conflict, which began in February. Oil production has been slashed to about a quarter of prewar levels, according to Welligence analyst Eric Soosay, and Iraq has been forced to shut the majority of its oilfields.