PVTIME – On Friday 24 October, Iraq’s Ministry of Industry and Minerals announced plans to build the country’s first comprehensive solar panel manufacturing plant, which is expected to have an annual capacity of 750MW. The project aims to meet domestic clean energy demands and create potential export opportunities.
Ministry spokesperson Doha Al-Jubouri informed the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the ministry had signed a cooperation agreement through its subsidiary, the Al-Zawraa General Company, to begin construction of the facility. The plant will be equipped with advanced machinery and modern technology to produce high-efficiency solar panels of various capacities for renewable energy projects in the government, industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. With an annual output of 750MW, once operational the factory will fully cover Iraq’s domestic solar component needs and will have the capacity to expand into regional markets over time.
Jubouri emphasised that all new solar power plants in Iraq in the future will prioritise the use of locally produced Al-Zawraa panels. These homegrown components will form the core of the nation’s large-scale PV stations and will also support distributed generation projects for small-to-medium industries, businesses, and homes.
She further stressed that the project marked a critical milestone in Iraq’s efforts to localise its solar energy industry. Jubouri noted that establishing a complete manufacturing ecosystem would boost domestic industrial value and cut production costs. This would allow consumers to access high-quality, locally built solar systems at more competitive prices, strengthening the advantage of local products over imports.
Additionally, the initiative supports the Iraqi government’s broader objectives of fostering national industries and expediting the shift towards clean energy. It also complements the solar project financing scheme recently launched by Iraq’s Central Bank, which covers household, commercial, and industrial installations. Al-Zawraa has already joined the programme in order to promote the wider adoption of solar energy throughout the country.
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