Baghdad [Iraq], September 20 (ANI): Iraq is set to open its first industrial-scale solar power plant in Karbala as the government seeks to address an electricity crisis that has triggered frequent nationwide blackouts, Al Jazeera reported. Deputy Minister of Electricity Adel Karim said Iraq has solar projects with a combined capacity of 12,500 megawatts either being implemented, in the approval stage, or under negotiation. Despite being rich in oil and gas resources, Iraq has struggled with electricity shortages for decades, largely due to war, corruption, and mismanagement. By contrast, Karim said Iraq currently produces about 28,000 megawatts, including nearly 8,000 megawatts from natural gas imported from Iran and channelled to Iraqi power plants. Iran itself has been grappling with severe energy shortages, further affecting its export capacity to Iraq, Al Jazeera reported.