Thursday, September 06, 2007
Electricity employees struggle with reconstruction due to insecurity
Security, Electricity
(Azzaman) - Eight electricity engineers on a mission to repair power lines were abducted and killed in Baghdad. The kidnapping and brusque murder of the engineers took place in Waziriya, an upmarket Baghdad district supposedly one of the most secure in the capital. The bodies of the engineers were dumped on a street in Baghdad.
Electricity engineers and workers have become main targets of attacks. Meantime operations directed to cripple the already rickety power grid are reported to have increased recently. The killing of the engineers brings the number of electricity personnel killed on duty to 150 since the U.S. invasion of the country.
The Electricity Ministry says almost half of Baghdad is a dangerous area for its employees. “Our technicians and engineers cannot enter many areas in Baghdad, particularly in the Karkh Side of the city, to repair power failures due to the presence of gunmen,” a ministry source refusing to be named said.
Electricity engineers and workers have become main targets of attacks. Meantime operations directed to cripple the already rickety power grid are reported to have increased recently. The killing of the engineers brings the number of electricity personnel killed on duty to 150 since the U.S. invasion of the country.
The Electricity Ministry says almost half of Baghdad is a dangerous area for its employees. “Our technicians and engineers cannot enter many areas in Baghdad, particularly in the Karkh Side of the city, to repair power failures due to the presence of gunmen,” a ministry source refusing to be named said.
Labels: abduction, electricity engineers, execution, Karkh, Ministry of Electricity, Waziriya
Friday, August 24, 2007
Electricity minister announces $2.5 bn. plan to upgrde national grid
Electricity
(RFE/RL) - Iraqi Minister of Electricity Karim Wahid Hasan told reporters that the ministry has released the first plan in 30 years to modernize Iraq's power grid. "This plan focuses on [how] to add 1,000-1,500 megawatts to the national grid," Hasan said, adding that the four-year program will cost an estimated $2.5 billion.
"In the next four years, the Ministry of Planning agreed to allocate $40 million a year and the additional grants will be allocated by the DARS [not further identified]. Also we are working to provide investments according to a certain principal which many countries now work on," Hasan said, noting that the ministry plans to boost the capacity of provincial power plants. Saying Iraq "needs approximately 9,500 megawatts," Hasan told reporters the country will reach 5,400 megawatts "in the next few months."
Commenting on how the security situation is affecting electricity supplies, he said: "I can confirm that the Ministry of Electricity work 24 hours a day but we have many problems especially the security problems. We cannot rehabilitate or repair the problems and we cannot ask our employees to work in certain parts of Iraq due to the insecurity. Thus, there is no technical problem in the Ministry of Electricity. There [are] only security problems."
Labels: Iraq's power grid, Karim Wahid Hasan, Ministry of Electricity
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Power supply worsens
Electricity
(IRIN) - The power supply situation has been getting worse and in the past three months millions of people have been getting less than three hours of mains power a day, according to the Iraq Aid Association. The Ministry of Electricity has acknowledged its inability to meet the needs of the population, blaming the chronic power cuts on lack of fuel and violence.
Emad Rafid, a senior official in the Ministry of Electricity, said the available supply of electricity was sufficient to meet half the demand. "Violence is preventing our workers from doing repair work in many dangerous areas and those districts are the ones with severe power shortages," he said, adding that the situation today was worse than at any time since the UN sanctions in the 1990s.
"The problem is worse in the capital, especially in the outskirts, but a solution is far from being found because of the violence," he said. The Ministry of Oil said there was a severe fuel shortage because the country's refineries were operating below capacity and also because of terrorist attacks on refineries. To compound the problem, a number of employees were abandoning their jobs because they feared being attacked.
Long queues in the severe heat can be seen at petrol stations, which operate for a few hours a day only. They sell to drivers only. You are not allowed to buy petrol in jerry cans. "I don't have a car to fill up. If I did I could siphon off the petrol into jerry cans at home. Black marketeers are selling petrol at 10 to 15 times more than at the pumps," Abdel-Rahman said.
The police said they have seen many cases of people getting injured through keeping petrol in their backyards and sometimes even in their homes. Over the past two weeks, at least one child and three men died as a result of this, according to the police. Power cuts have been one factor aggravating people's health. Many come to hospital suffering dehydration owing to the intense heat, which in the past would have been mitigated by air-conditioning, Youssera Abdallah, a senior official in the Ministry of Health, said.
"Hospitals are seriously affected by power cuts. We have installed an additional small generator in case the big ones stop working, as most generators don't work properly," Dr Ahmed Samaraie, a doctor at Yarmouk Hospital in Baghdad, said.The problem also affects maternity units and clinics, which have reduced their workload as the power cuts have increased.
Labels: electricity, Iraq, Iraq Aid Association, Ministry of Electricity, Ministry of Oil, power
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Electricity output meets only half of domestic needs
Electricity
(Azzaman) - The Ministry of Electricity has finally acknowledged its inability to meet the country’s needs, blaming the current chronic shortages on lack of fuel. Informed sources at the ministry said current output was less than half what the country needs amid soaring temperatures brushing 50 degrees centigrade. The sources said electrical generation capacity is even worse than in the months before the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
The ministry blames the present prolonged outages, which may continue non-stop in certain areas for several consecutive days, on fuel shortages. Rows are reported to have broken out at cabinet meetings between Oil Minister Hussain Shahristani and Electricity Minister Kareem Hassan over fuel supplies. Hassan is said to have accused Shahristani of failing to honor commitments to supply power stations with their fuel needs, saying that much of the reduced capacity is due to stoppages caused by lack of fuel.
Deputy Prime Minister Burham Saleh, who heads the government’s economic commission, has said Shahristani has consistently showed “non-commitment to make available the fuel quantities the Ministry of Electricity needs.” Besides power problems, the country faces severe fuel shortages with refineries running at much below capacity. Iraq currently spends hundreds of millions of dollars on fuel imports from neighboring countries.
Aziz Shammari of the Electricity Ministry said the country had never witnessed “this kind of power crisis” since the 1990s when punitive U.N. trade sanctions were still in placed. “Electricity generation can hardly meet half of the country’s needs. Power output has never been as worse as it is today since 2003,” Shammari said.
The ministry blames the present prolonged outages, which may continue non-stop in certain areas for several consecutive days, on fuel shortages. Rows are reported to have broken out at cabinet meetings between Oil Minister Hussain Shahristani and Electricity Minister Kareem Hassan over fuel supplies. Hassan is said to have accused Shahristani of failing to honor commitments to supply power stations with their fuel needs, saying that much of the reduced capacity is due to stoppages caused by lack of fuel.
Deputy Prime Minister Burham Saleh, who heads the government’s economic commission, has said Shahristani has consistently showed “non-commitment to make available the fuel quantities the Ministry of Electricity needs.” Besides power problems, the country faces severe fuel shortages with refineries running at much below capacity. Iraq currently spends hundreds of millions of dollars on fuel imports from neighboring countries.
Aziz Shammari of the Electricity Ministry said the country had never witnessed “this kind of power crisis” since the 1990s when punitive U.N. trade sanctions were still in placed. “Electricity generation can hardly meet half of the country’s needs. Power output has never been as worse as it is today since 2003,” Shammari said.
Labels: Dr. Burham Saleh, fuel shortages, Hussain al-Shahristani, Kareem Hassan, Ministry of Electricity
Monday, May 28, 2007
No Water, No Electricity…One Liter Of Fuel Reaches 1,500 ID
(Baghdad Newspaper) - 27 MAY - It seems that the Electricity Ministry has made a deal with Baghdad Municipality to hurt the Iraqi people, especially students. Citizens have forgotten about their electricity problems but they are surprised there is no water and this is occurring all over Baghdad. This water crisis is beginning at the same time as the final exams for students.
The Iraqi people also have another problem which is called fuel. A long time ago, when Iraqi men came back home they brought a small bag containing fruits. Nowadays, when Iraqi men come home they bring a small jug containing five liters of fuel. We call this jug ‘debah.’ Today, if we ask anyone about the price of this jug he will be able to answer you quickly. Yesterday, the price was just 5,000 ID ($4), but today the price is 7,000 ID ($5.50).
The Iraqi people also have another problem which is called fuel. A long time ago, when Iraqi men came back home they brought a small bag containing fruits. Nowadays, when Iraqi men come home they bring a small jug containing five liters of fuel. We call this jug ‘debah.’ Today, if we ask anyone about the price of this jug he will be able to answer you quickly. Yesterday, the price was just 5,000 ID ($4), but today the price is 7,000 ID ($5.50).
Traditionally, when Iraqi families visit each other they often bring a gift. Nowadays, the Iraqi family takes a five liter jug of fuel as a gift. When somebody visits a home, you will see yourself seated in a sauna because the house owner does not have fuel for their generator [for the air conditioner to operate]. Therefore, you have to leave their house, but if you have five liters of fuel, you will enjoy the visit with your friends.
Electricity Ministry officials often state, “The southern provinces take Baghdad’s share of the electricity.” But we also see the southern provinces do not have electricity either. So where is the electricity? The other problem is that the Electricity Ministry asked the Industry Ministry to close its factories for two months. In the past, we had many factories and we also had enough electricity.
Labels: debah, electricity, fuel, Ministry of Electricity, water
Friday, May 25, 2007
China to sign $750 mn. power station contract
Reconstruction
(IRAQdirecotry.com) - A high-level delegation from the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity in Beijing is signing a contract to have China speed up implementation of the power station at Zubaydiah in southern Baghdad. An official source in the ministry said that the two sides agreed, during a meeting between the Minister of Electricity Kareem Waheed and the Chinese ambassador in Baghdad, to expedite the signing of a contract for the construction of the 1320 megawatt Al-Zubaydeh power station, at a cost of $750 million.
The Ministry of Electricity has started preparing special sites for 50 generators in the city of Baghdad, to increase electric production before mid-June and reduce hours of rationing in the capital. On the other hand, a dispute escalated between officials in the ministries of oil and electricity about supplying the power plants with fuel; the Ministry of Electricity held the Ministry of Oil responsible for the waste of 1000 MW capacity because of shortfalls of fuel for the plants.
Labels: Al-Zubaydeh power station, China, electricity, Kareem Waheed, Ministry of Electricity, Zubaydiah
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Attacks on national grid plunge Baghdad into darkness
Security
(Azzaman) - Attacks targeting the national grid have plunged most of Baghdad into total darkness, the Ministry of Electricity said. In a statement, the ministry said attacks of sabotage have intensified recently on pylons and transformers as well as power stations. “The ministry is subjected these days to ferocious terrorist attacks,” the statement said.
It said high voltage pylons linking power stations to cities were being blown up and the ministry’s technicians could hardly cope to repair damage. Four pylons linking al-Radhwaniya power plant to densely populated Baghdad neighborhoods were destroyed in one day, the ministry said.
On average, outages may continue for up to 20 hours a day in Baghdad but the latest attacks have reduced national grid supplies to the city to a trickle. Iraq still produces less electricity than before the U.S. invasion of 2003 despite allocations totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
It said high voltage pylons linking power stations to cities were being blown up and the ministry’s technicians could hardly cope to repair damage. Four pylons linking al-Radhwaniya power plant to densely populated Baghdad neighborhoods were destroyed in one day, the ministry said.
On average, outages may continue for up to 20 hours a day in Baghdad but the latest attacks have reduced national grid supplies to the city to a trickle. Iraq still produces less electricity than before the U.S. invasion of 2003 despite allocations totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
Labels: al-Radhwaniya power plant, Baghdad, electricity, Ministry of Electricity, national grid
Friday, May 18, 2007
Iraqis Are Angry…No Power, No Water, No Fuel
Reconstruction
(Al Mashriq Newspaper AR.) - 17 MAY - Iraqis’ “anger level” has reached the top (maximum level)…due to the three-headed crises of: water, power, and fuel. Iraqis were already tired of the security situation years ago. And NOW, the Iraqis are suffering from: an entire absence of electricity… AND a lack of water… AND a lack of fuel!
Iraqis told this Newspaper that the government has failed to find solutions to these crises. And (some more) Iraqis said: the (government) officials have electricity AND water AND fuel… while the (normal) Iraqi people suffer!
This Newspaper called Oil Ministry spokesman Assim Jihad and asked him about the current fuel crisis. Jihad said, “Some (security) checkpoints have not allowed fuel tankers to pass through…some do; but, others do not.” He revealed that the Oil Ministry intends to reopen some of Iraq’s “closed” fuel stations. He further stated: the Oil Ministry has contacted the MOI and MOD about allowing fuel tankers to pass through checkpoints.
Regarding the water problem, an official at Baghdad’s Municipality (government) said, “Due to the electrical power outages, we are unable to operate the eastern Tigris River water project.” He (the Municipality official) stressed that Baghdad’s problem is not (due to a shortage of) water; but, rather it is due to the power outages (electricity drives the water pumps and machinery).
In a related issue, [Note: the following statement is the journalist’s SARCASM:] the Ministry of Electricity delivered welcome news to Iraqis yesterday…saying that an entire power black-out occurred yesterday in southern “Karkh” (Baghdad west of the Tigris).
Iraqis told this Newspaper that the government has failed to find solutions to these crises. And (some more) Iraqis said: the (government) officials have electricity AND water AND fuel… while the (normal) Iraqi people suffer!
This Newspaper called Oil Ministry spokesman Assim Jihad and asked him about the current fuel crisis. Jihad said, “Some (security) checkpoints have not allowed fuel tankers to pass through…some do; but, others do not.” He revealed that the Oil Ministry intends to reopen some of Iraq’s “closed” fuel stations. He further stated: the Oil Ministry has contacted the MOI and MOD about allowing fuel tankers to pass through checkpoints.
Regarding the water problem, an official at Baghdad’s Municipality (government) said, “Due to the electrical power outages, we are unable to operate the eastern Tigris River water project.” He (the Municipality official) stressed that Baghdad’s problem is not (due to a shortage of) water; but, rather it is due to the power outages (electricity drives the water pumps and machinery).
In a related issue, [Note: the following statement is the journalist’s SARCASM:] the Ministry of Electricity delivered welcome news to Iraqis yesterday…saying that an entire power black-out occurred yesterday in southern “Karkh” (Baghdad west of the Tigris).
A source at the Electricity Ministry said that a high voltage power transmission line was “exposed to sabotage” (damaged by an attack). As a [Sarcastic] reminder (from the author)…if this electrical power line was not sabotaged (damaged)… then the Iraqi people could have had one or two hours worth of electricity!!! (per day…referring to the “normal” amount for many areas in Baghdad lately).
Labels: Assim Jihad, electricity, fuel, Iraq, Ministry of Electricity, water
