Iraq has agreed to repay a $1.69 billion debt to Iran under a new deal to import Iranian gas that Baghdad hopes will alleviate its chronic electricity shortages,but which also highlights its continued dependence on its neighbor.Electricity Minister Adel Karim,who visited Tehran late last month,told state media this week that Iraq would pay the money it owes Iran for gas imports by June,when the current supply deal between them expires and the new one kicks in.Under the new agreement,Iran will supply 50 million cubic meters per day of gas to Iraq over the summer.Karim also said that Iraq will probably need to keep importing Iranian gas for another five to 10 years,depending on how successful it is in finding alternative supplies,which include developing its own gas resources and reducing wasteful flaring.
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