![(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 29, 2018, a man checks the wiring on electric cables reaching out to homes in Saadoun Street in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, as chronic power shortages have forced residents to buy electricity from private entrepreneurs who run generators on street corners across the country. With a freshman at the helm, Iraq's electricity ministry is planning a long-awaited overhaul of the broken sector to both meet US pressure to halt Iranian power imports and head off summertime protests over chronic cuts. Baghdad hopes it will generate enough megawatts to feed demand by summer, when cuts can leave millions powerless for up to 20 hours per day. / AFP / SABAH ARAR](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4ST5D4GWECTQVMJPIIYRJ3OJVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=14fbf24ae2e7dd482319d0a2913d832c0c03822e8ad4dc001047d431bf6d8dbb&width=400&height=225)
Iraq's electricity ministry has courted international energy firms such as Siemens and GE to help rehabilitate its power infrastructure. AFP
Iraq's electricity ministry has courted international energy firms such as Siemens and GE to help rehabilitate its power infrastructure. AFP
Siemens signs substation contract with Iraq's electricity ministry
The German firm plans to build 13 substations as part of its roadmap for the rehabilitation of the Iraqi electricity sector