Qatar’s sustainability vision finds parallel in the north: Idris Nechirvan Barzani positions Kurdistan as rising player in regional clean energy

A new stage of development is taking shape in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where rural communities that once struggled with basic services are now be...

A new stage of development is taking shape in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where rural communities that once struggled with basic services are now beginning to rely on clean energy.

Much of this progress is being driven by Idris Nechirvan Barzani and the Rwanga Foundation. Their projects are giving villages stable electricity and a renewed sense of confidence. The work aligns closely with the growing commitment to sustainability across the Gulf, especially in Qatar where environmental planning has become a national priority.

The impact is especially visible in communities that, for decades, existed on the edge of Iraq’s infrastructure. Sheikh Wasan is one such place. Known for the suffering it endured during the chemical attacks of the 1980s, the village lived for years with weak and unreliable electricity. Residents depended on small generators that limited daily activity. When the Rwanga Foundation installed solar systems in every home and in key public buildings, daily life changed immediately. The clinic could stay open after sunset, children could read and finish homework without interruption, and families finally experienced the stability that modern power provides.

For Barzani, these projects are not only about technology. He often speaks of the need to restore dignity and predictability to communities that have faced enormous challenges. Clean energy becomes part of that effort.

A similar vision guided the creation of Kulak Solar Village, launched in 2025. It is now one of the most complete rural sustainability projects in Iraq. The village operates fully on solar power and supports irrigation, agriculture, small enterprises and women’s cooperatives. Local youth have been trained to run the systems, creating homegrown expertise and reducing the need for outside support. It is the kind of community based development that many in the Gulf, including Qatar, have been supporting within their own national strategies.