Soran will soon receive uninterrupted electricity for the first time. Starting this October, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Runaki project will begin delivering 24/7 power to the Soran Independent Administration. This move will impact more than 350,000 residents living in its six districts, 13 sub-districts, and over 1,000 villages.
The Runaki project, launched by the Ninth Cabinet of the KRG, focuses on upgrading the power grid and installing smart meters. This change will finally eliminate the area’s dependence on costly and polluting private generators.
Ardawan Ibrahim, Director General of Electricity Distribution in Soran, announced the one-month rollout. He stated that the process will begin in early October and continue until the end of the month. Although the exact start point is still under discussion, Ibrahim stressed the importance of beginning in rural areas. These villages have no generators and rely only on the national grid.
All citizens will receive smart meters during the project. The Prime Minister’s team will install them in homes that still lack the new system. This includes both city centers and remote villages.
Soran is a vital area for tourism, trade, and agriculture. Its location near the borders with Turkey and Iran makes it strategically important. With constant power, these sectors will grow stronger.
Officials see Runaki as the most significant KRG initiative in three decades. The project not only brings reliable electricity but also helps protect the environment. Fewer diesel generators mean less air and noise pollution.
So far, the program has already delivered round-the-clock electricity to 2.7 million people in the Kurdistan Region. The government aims to extend it to the entire population by the end of 2026.