Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Iran to provide Iraq with fuel and electricity
Region
(Voices of Iraq) - The Iranian government will supply Iraq with fuel and electricity during the coming seven months and allocate $1 million to rebuild Iraqi infrastructure, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Rida Baqeri said. During a news conference held following the second Iraq's Neighbors' Conference on Sunday, Baqeri indicated that his government will provide Iraq with up to 1,250 megawatts of electricity during the coming few months.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday inaugurated the 2nd conference of Iraq's neighbors in Baghdad with the participation of more than 22 states, regional and international organizations. The conference aimed to assess progress achieved on the recommendations from the first neighbor's conference and the Sharm al-Sheikh conference held in May 2007.
Describing the conference's deliberations as "good and positive," Baqeri noted that the talks demonstrated the Iraqi government's ability to surmount all challenges, and a significant improvement in the security situation.
Baqeri also revealed his plan to discuss with Iraqi officials ways to boost mutual relations between the two countries.
In response to a question about recent developments in U.S.-Iranian talks, Baqeri said, "We accepted to sit down and talk with our enemies (in reference to the U.S. side) for Iraq's sake. If the Iraqi government asks us to sit down and talk with them again, we will consider its request."
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday inaugurated the 2nd conference of Iraq's neighbors in Baghdad with the participation of more than 22 states, regional and international organizations. The conference aimed to assess progress achieved on the recommendations from the first neighbor's conference and the Sharm al-Sheikh conference held in May 2007.
Describing the conference's deliberations as "good and positive," Baqeri noted that the talks demonstrated the Iraqi government's ability to surmount all challenges, and a significant improvement in the security situation.
Baqeri also revealed his plan to discuss with Iraqi officials ways to boost mutual relations between the two countries.
In response to a question about recent developments in U.S.-Iranian talks, Baqeri said, "We accepted to sit down and talk with our enemies (in reference to the U.S. side) for Iraq's sake. If the Iraqi government asks us to sit down and talk with them again, we will consider its request."
Labels: electricity, fuel, Iran, Iraq, Mohammad Rida Baqeri, regional conference
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
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Iran - Iraq trade on the rise
Trade
(Press TV) - 97 percent of the $2 billion worth of bilateral trade with Iraq consists of Iranian exports to that country, Iran's envoy to Baghdad says. Iran has a significant potential to participate in Iraq's reconstruction, the Iranian ambassador, Hassan Kazemi Qomi said, adding that presently the contracts to build Baghdad's 300 Megawatt power plant and 2 pipelines to transfer 350 thousand barrels of crude oil per day from Basra to Abadan are also underway.
The 400 Megawatt electricity power transmission line from Abadan to Al-Hares is among the most important projects being implemented by Iran, Kazemi Qomi said. Iran's ambassador to Iraq noted that Iran's Pars Wagon Company has adequate capabilities to have a positive role in development of Iraq's rail network.
Signing 65 other technical cooperation documents for the expansion of Iraq's railroad is among the future cooperation in this field. The Iranian envoy referred to these projects as a clear sign of Iran's willingness to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction, mentioning that Iranian pilgrims visit to Iraq by train is another important issue.
The 400 Megawatt electricity power transmission line from Abadan to Al-Hares is among the most important projects being implemented by Iran, Kazemi Qomi said. Iran's ambassador to Iraq noted that Iran's Pars Wagon Company has adequate capabilities to have a positive role in development of Iraq's rail network.
Signing 65 other technical cooperation documents for the expansion of Iraq's railroad is among the future cooperation in this field. The Iranian envoy referred to these projects as a clear sign of Iran's willingness to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction, mentioning that Iranian pilgrims visit to Iraq by train is another important issue.
Labels: crude oil, electricity, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran, Iraq, Pars Wagon Company, rail links, trade
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Saboteurs mount more attacks on national grid
Security
(Azzaman) - The country’s power generating systems have come under fresh attacks putting more stations and units out of order. The attacks come as the national grid is passing through its worst period since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
Despite allocations of hundreds of millions of dollars the grid has been deteriorating and currently the power generating capacity is less than the nearly 4500 megawatts it produced in the months leading to the overthrow of former leader Saddam Hussein.
The generating capacity is now less than half the country’s needs. As a result major cities like Baghdad and Mosul may go without electricity for several days in a row. An Electricity Ministry source said saboteurs last week blew up power pylons disrupting supplies from six generating units servicing the capital Baghdad.
High voltage lines linking the Doura power plant with feeder stations in Baghdad were also attacked. Doura is a major plant built specifically to serve Baghdad. The source said the ministry’s has asked the armed forces and security personnel to accompany its repair teams trying to redress the damage.
Despite allocations of hundreds of millions of dollars the grid has been deteriorating and currently the power generating capacity is less than the nearly 4500 megawatts it produced in the months leading to the overthrow of former leader Saddam Hussein.
The generating capacity is now less than half the country’s needs. As a result major cities like Baghdad and Mosul may go without electricity for several days in a row. An Electricity Ministry source said saboteurs last week blew up power pylons disrupting supplies from six generating units servicing the capital Baghdad.
High voltage lines linking the Doura power plant with feeder stations in Baghdad were also attacked. Doura is a major plant built specifically to serve Baghdad. The source said the ministry’s has asked the armed forces and security personnel to accompany its repair teams trying to redress the damage.
Labels: Doura power plant, electricity, Iraq, national grid
Monday, August 06, 2007
Iraq's power grid is on the brink of collapse
Electricity
(The Guardian) - Iraq's power grid is on the brink of collapse because of insurgent sabotage, rising demand, fuel shortages and provinces that are unplugging local power stations from the national grid, according to officials. Aziz al-Shimari, an electricity ministry spokesman, said at the weekend that power generation nationally was only meeting half the demand, and there had been four nationwide blackouts over the past two days. The shortages across the country were the worst since the summer of 2003, shortly after the US-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, he added.
Power supplies in Baghdad have been sporadic all summer and now are down to just a few hours a day at most. The water supply in the capital has also been severely curtailed by power blackouts and cuts that have affected pumping and filtration stations. Kerbala province, south of Baghdad, has been without power for three days, causing water mains to go dry in the Shia holy city of Kerbala, the provincial capital.
Electricity shortages are a perennial problem in Iraq, even though it sits atop one of the world's largest crude oil reserves. The national power grid became decrepit under Saddam Hussein because his regime was under UN sanctions after the Gulf war and had trouble buying equipment to upgrade the system. The power problems are only adding to the misery of Iraqis, already suffering from the effects of more than four years of war and sectarian violence. Outages make life almost unbearable in the summer months, when average daily temperatures reach between 43.3C (110F) and 48.8C.
One of the biggest problems facing the national grid is the move by provinces to disconnect their power plants from the system, reducing the overall amount of electricity being generated for the entire country. Provinces say they have no choice because they are not getting as much electricity in return for what they produce, mainly because the capital requires so much power.
"Many southern provinces - such as Basra, Diwaniya, Nassiriya, Babil - have disconnected their power plants from the national grid. Northern provinces, including Kurdistan, are doing the same," Mr Shimari said. "We have absolutely no control over some areas in the south. "The national grid will collapse if the provinces do not abide by rules regarding their share of electricity. Everybody will lose and there will be no electricity winner," Mr Shimari said.
He complained that Baghdad was unable to stop provincial power stations pulling out of the national system or provinces failing to take themselves off the grid once they had used their daily ration of electricity. Compounding the problem, Mr Shimari said of 17 power lines running into the capital, only two were operational. The rest had been sabotaged.
Fuel shortages are also a major problem. Ghalib al-Daami, a provincial spokesman in Kerbala, said a 50-megawatt power station had been shut down due to a lack of fuel, leaving the entire province without water and electricity for three days. He said sewage was seeping above ground across nearly half the city because pumping trucks used to clean septic tanks had been unable to operate due to petrol shortages. The sewage was causing a health threat to citizens and contaminating crops in the region.
Many people who would normally rely on small, home generators for electricity could not afford to buy fuel. Petrol prices had shot up to nearly 65p a litre, Kerbala residents said, a price that put the fuel out of range for all but the wealthy.
Power supplies in Baghdad have been sporadic all summer and now are down to just a few hours a day at most. The water supply in the capital has also been severely curtailed by power blackouts and cuts that have affected pumping and filtration stations. Kerbala province, south of Baghdad, has been without power for three days, causing water mains to go dry in the Shia holy city of Kerbala, the provincial capital.
Electricity shortages are a perennial problem in Iraq, even though it sits atop one of the world's largest crude oil reserves. The national power grid became decrepit under Saddam Hussein because his regime was under UN sanctions after the Gulf war and had trouble buying equipment to upgrade the system. The power problems are only adding to the misery of Iraqis, already suffering from the effects of more than four years of war and sectarian violence. Outages make life almost unbearable in the summer months, when average daily temperatures reach between 43.3C (110F) and 48.8C.
One of the biggest problems facing the national grid is the move by provinces to disconnect their power plants from the system, reducing the overall amount of electricity being generated for the entire country. Provinces say they have no choice because they are not getting as much electricity in return for what they produce, mainly because the capital requires so much power.
"Many southern provinces - such as Basra, Diwaniya, Nassiriya, Babil - have disconnected their power plants from the national grid. Northern provinces, including Kurdistan, are doing the same," Mr Shimari said. "We have absolutely no control over some areas in the south. "The national grid will collapse if the provinces do not abide by rules regarding their share of electricity. Everybody will lose and there will be no electricity winner," Mr Shimari said.
He complained that Baghdad was unable to stop provincial power stations pulling out of the national system or provinces failing to take themselves off the grid once they had used their daily ration of electricity. Compounding the problem, Mr Shimari said of 17 power lines running into the capital, only two were operational. The rest had been sabotaged.
Fuel shortages are also a major problem. Ghalib al-Daami, a provincial spokesman in Kerbala, said a 50-megawatt power station had been shut down due to a lack of fuel, leaving the entire province without water and electricity for three days. He said sewage was seeping above ground across nearly half the city because pumping trucks used to clean septic tanks had been unable to operate due to petrol shortages. The sewage was causing a health threat to citizens and contaminating crops in the region.
Many people who would normally rely on small, home generators for electricity could not afford to buy fuel. Petrol prices had shot up to nearly 65p a litre, Kerbala residents said, a price that put the fuel out of range for all but the wealthy.
Labels: Aziz al-Shimari, blackouts, electricity, fuel, Iraq's power grid
Friday, August 03, 2007
UNSC Iraq resolution may be approved soon
U.N.
(Al Jazeera) - A draft UN Security Council resolution to expand the world body's mandate in Iraq is expected to be approved soon. The draft sponsored by the US and Britain will give the UN scope to help promote political reconciliation, settle disputed internal boundaries, and plan for a national census. "I think it will get voted early next week," Emyr Jones Parry, Britain's ambassador to the UN, said. "There's no problem on it - it's straight forward."
Britain circulated the resolution to the other Security Council members on Wednesday and council experts went over the text. The experts were expected to meet again on Friday. Russia signalled its assent on Thursday, making approval by the Security Council almost certain. Vitaly Churkin, Russia's UN ambassador, said on Thursday that "it's overall a good draft ... I don't see any basic problems."
Britain circulated the resolution to the other Security Council members on Wednesday and council experts went over the text. The experts were expected to meet again on Friday. Russia signalled its assent on Thursday, making approval by the Security Council almost certain. Vitaly Churkin, Russia's UN ambassador, said on Thursday that "it's overall a good draft ... I don't see any basic problems."
The UN secretary-general has been under pressure from the US to expand the world body's role in Iraq. Ban Ki-moon said in June he would consider it, but said deteriorating security in Iraq was an obstacle. The small UN Mission in Iraq has helped to organise elections, promote a national dialogue, and develop institutions for representative government. Its current mandate expires next Friday.
The draft would extend the mission's mandate for a year and authorise it to help organise reintegration programmes for former combatants, assist the return of refugees and displaced people, and promote economic reform and the development of an effective civil service and social services for the Iraqi people.
It would also be asked to promote human rights and judicial and legal reforms "in order to strengthen the rule of law" and to assist the government "on initial planning for a comprehensive census". Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general, pulled all UN international staff out of Iraq in October 2003 after a spate of attacks on humanitarian workers and two bombings at UN headquarters in Baghdad killed dozens, including the top UN envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
In August 2004, Annan allowed a small U.N. contingent to return to Baghdad and imposed a ceiling of 35 international workers, which has steadily increased but remains relatively low because of the security situation.
The new mandate, if approved, would come as the situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. Besides daily violence, residents in Baghdad have had their taps run dry at the height of summer when temperatures are close to 50 degrees celsius. Residents and city officials said on Thursday that large sections in the west of the capital had been virtually dry for six days because the already strained electricity grid could not provide sufficient power to run water purification and pumping stations.
The problem highlights the larger difficulties in a capital beset by violence, crumbling infrastructure, rampant crime and too little electricity to keep cool in the sweltering weather more than four years after the US-led invasion.
The draft would extend the mission's mandate for a year and authorise it to help organise reintegration programmes for former combatants, assist the return of refugees and displaced people, and promote economic reform and the development of an effective civil service and social services for the Iraqi people.
It would also be asked to promote human rights and judicial and legal reforms "in order to strengthen the rule of law" and to assist the government "on initial planning for a comprehensive census". Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general, pulled all UN international staff out of Iraq in October 2003 after a spate of attacks on humanitarian workers and two bombings at UN headquarters in Baghdad killed dozens, including the top UN envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
In August 2004, Annan allowed a small U.N. contingent to return to Baghdad and imposed a ceiling of 35 international workers, which has steadily increased but remains relatively low because of the security situation.
The new mandate, if approved, would come as the situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. Besides daily violence, residents in Baghdad have had their taps run dry at the height of summer when temperatures are close to 50 degrees celsius. Residents and city officials said on Thursday that large sections in the west of the capital had been virtually dry for six days because the already strained electricity grid could not provide sufficient power to run water purification and pumping stations.
The problem highlights the larger difficulties in a capital beset by violence, crumbling infrastructure, rampant crime and too little electricity to keep cool in the sweltering weather more than four years after the US-led invasion.
Labels: draft resolution, electricity, Emyr Jones Parry, Russia, UNAMI, UNSC, water
Friday, July 27, 2007
Statistics on the surge and quality of life in Iraq
Security, Infrastructure
(BBC) - An extra 30,000 US troops have been deployed in Iraq, mainly in and around the capital Baghdad, since the launch of the security drive, or "surge", in February. The BBC World Service is monitoring its effects, week by week, by looking at casualty figures, the pressure on hospitals and quality of life for ordinary civilians. The graphics and analysis are based on figures from the US and Iraqi authorities, Baghdad's hospitals and three families from different neighbourhoods in the capital.
Labels: electricity, hospitals, Iraq, security, statistics
Friday, July 20, 2007
Iraq signs MOU with Turkey for electricity
Region
(Iraq Directory) - Jawad Hendawi, Chairman of the Energy Committee at the Sharm-Sheikh conference, has announced that Iraq has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ankara to link part of the Turkish electricity network with Iraq.
Hendawi said in a press conference held in Baghdad on Wednesday that the Turks agreed to link part of their network with the Iraqi electrical system, facilitating the transfer of electricity to a large section of the country.
He added that Kuwait declared its readiness to send tanker trucks transporting fuel to central and southern governorates. Hendawi also noted the Committee, which includes Iraq, Turkey, Kuwait and Iran will hold its second meeting next month.
Hendawi said in a press conference held in Baghdad on Wednesday that the Turks agreed to link part of their network with the Iraqi electrical system, facilitating the transfer of electricity to a large section of the country.
He added that Kuwait declared its readiness to send tanker trucks transporting fuel to central and southern governorates. Hendawi also noted the Committee, which includes Iraq, Turkey, Kuwait and Iran will hold its second meeting next month.
Labels: electricity, fuel, Jawad Hendawi, Kuwait, MOU, Sharm-Sheikh conference, Turkey
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Demonstrations in Samawa against power, fuel shortages
Electricity
(Azzaman) - Thousands of people went to the streets in the southern Province of Muthana, protesting power and fuel shortages. The demonstration took place in Samawa, Muthana’s capital, with the organizers warning of grave consequence if the current shortages of fuel and power were not addressed. Demonstrations also took place in Rumaitha, a provincial town.
Residents say the province has been without electricity in the past few days. The total outage has had detrimental impact on public services. The outage has been aggravated by chronic fuel shortages. The crisis, officials say, is unprecedented in the province’s history. A senior provincial official, Ridaydh Dwaini, blamed the Ministry of Electricity for the crisis.
He said the province does not have its own power-generating plant and totally relies on the national grid for supplies. But the ministry says acts of sabotage, particularly of pylons, have increased substantially recently making it very hard to control the national grid. The head of Samawa fuel distribution center, Kamel Mohsen, also blamed the Ministry of Electricity, saying filling stations and distribution centers rely on continuous power supplies to operate.
Samawa has a small refinery capable of meeting nearly half of the province’s fuel demands. But Mohsen said a fuel tanker was blown up in the refinery itself recently, setting loading pumps and meters on fire.
Residents say the province has been without electricity in the past few days. The total outage has had detrimental impact on public services. The outage has been aggravated by chronic fuel shortages. The crisis, officials say, is unprecedented in the province’s history. A senior provincial official, Ridaydh Dwaini, blamed the Ministry of Electricity for the crisis.
He said the province does not have its own power-generating plant and totally relies on the national grid for supplies. But the ministry says acts of sabotage, particularly of pylons, have increased substantially recently making it very hard to control the national grid. The head of Samawa fuel distribution center, Kamel Mohsen, also blamed the Ministry of Electricity, saying filling stations and distribution centers rely on continuous power supplies to operate.
Samawa has a small refinery capable of meeting nearly half of the province’s fuel demands. But Mohsen said a fuel tanker was blown up in the refinery itself recently, setting loading pumps and meters on fire.
Labels: electricity, fuel, Muthana, Samawa
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
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Vice President meets Sistani
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi arrived in Najaf on Wednesday morning and met with top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Abdul Mahdi is due to take part in a conference, organized by the Islamic University in Najaf, on the current electricity situation in the Shiite province of Najaf. Five Iraqi ministers will attend the conference, media spokesman for the Najaf province, Ahmed Daabeil said. Najaf is the first Shiite sacred city as it hosts the shrine of the Shiite first Imam Ali, cousin of Prophet of Muhammed. It is located about 160 km southwest of Baghdad.
Labels: Adel Abdul Mahdi, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, electricity, Najaf
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
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
$2.5 bn. annually required to rebuild Iraq's electricity sector
Reconstruction
(Iraq Directory) - Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Kareem Hassan, said that Iraq must attract between 2 billion and $ 2.5 billion annually from international aid and investments to be able to rebuild the electricity sector. The Minister is in London to request help from energy companies, including B.B.
In an attempt to improve electricity, it has been agreed to a ten-year plan in 2006 with the assistance of the international community to add about 2000 megawatts to the generating capacity of the current 5000 megawatts. Hassan said that funding will come from the government budget amounting to 2 billion dollars annually, but the total cost ranges between four billion and $ 4.5 billion, which leave a shortfall of between 2 billion to $ 2.5 billion.
The minister continued, "we urge the donors to implement the commitments they have made in Madrid conference (for rebuilding Iraq) ... We also urge the sectors of electricity to contribute". He said that he is holding meetings in UK with all major electricity companies and with B.B concerning the gas project in the south of the country. Hassan added: "We discussed with them the main plan of gas as well."
In an attempt to improve electricity, it has been agreed to a ten-year plan in 2006 with the assistance of the international community to add about 2000 megawatts to the generating capacity of the current 5000 megawatts. Hassan said that funding will come from the government budget amounting to 2 billion dollars annually, but the total cost ranges between four billion and $ 4.5 billion, which leave a shortfall of between 2 billion to $ 2.5 billion.
The minister continued, "we urge the donors to implement the commitments they have made in Madrid conference (for rebuilding Iraq) ... We also urge the sectors of electricity to contribute". He said that he is holding meetings in UK with all major electricity companies and with B.B concerning the gas project in the south of the country. Hassan added: "We discussed with them the main plan of gas as well."
Labels: B.B., electricity, Kareem Hassan
Friday, May 04, 2007
Iran to export more electricity to Iraq
Electricity
(PressTV) - Iran's electricity export to Iraq is set to increase to 500 megawatts as a new power line comes on stream in Khosravi, Kermanshah Province. The 400-kilovolt transmission line, which will be 200 kilometers long, is scheduled to be put into operation through a 450 billion rial (roughly $48.64 million) investment, said Aziz Karimi, Managing Director of the West Regional Power Company. Iran is currently exporting 150 megawatts a day of power to Iraq via a 132-kilovolt line.
Karimi added that some 50 billion rials ($5.4 million) had been allocated to set up a 230-kilovolt power transmission line in the Sar Pol-e-Zahab area (665 kilometers northwest of capital Tehran). "This project is 90 percent complete," he added. Iran is also exporting electricity to five other neighboring countries, Karimi stated, adding "This way we will have more sources for importing power when we face shortages in the country during the peak season, while gaining access to more distant power grids - to Europe via Central Asia".
Labels: Aziz Karimi, electricity, Iran, Khosravi, Sar Pol-e-Zahab, West Regional Power Company
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Iraq needs $2.5 bn to rebuild power sector
Electricity
(Reuters) - Iraq must lure between $2 billion and $2.5 billion per year in international aid and investment if it is to rebuild its devastated power sector, the country's electricity minister said on Wednesday.The minister, Karim Hasan, was in London to enlist the help of energy companies including BP. Power cuts are a daily occurrence, especially in the capital Baghdad, as a result of nearly three decades of war damage, poor maintenance because of sanctions and due to sabotage. "We rebuild and they destroy every day," Hasan said, referring to the sabotage attacks.
He said he was seeking to protect the country's power plants with security forces, including around 7,000 "power police," but added: "I can't secure the power transmission.""Many people have died because of the lack of electricity. Most of the hospitals are not working because of a shortage of electricity," he told reporters. Oil refineries and oil production have also been affected by unreliable electricity supplies. Iraq's oil output is stuck at around two million barrels per day (bpd), compared with the nearly three million bpd just before the U.S.-led invasion began in March 2003.
To try to improve power generation, a 10-year plan was agreed in 2006, with the support of the international community, to add about 2,000 megawatts to current generating capacity of around 5,000 megawatts. Funding will come from $2 billion per year of government money, but the overall cost will be around $4 billion to $4.5 billion, leaving a gap of $2 billion to $2.5 billion, Hasan said. "We urge donors to fulfil the commitments they made at the Madrid conference (on reconstruction in Iraq)," Hasan said. "We also need to ask the power industries to contribute."
In Britain, he said he was holding meetings with all the big power generators and with BP about a gas project in the south of the country. "We also discussed with them a gas master plan," Hasan said. BP was not immediately available for comment. Iraq's vast energy reserves offer a big incentive for oil and gas companies considering investment in Iraq. But analysts said financial incentives for power firms willing to work in Iraq might not outweigh the dangers. "You could command a security premimum, but most people involved in electricity networks are reasonably risk averse people," said Sebastian Eyre of John Hall Associates. "The chances are there are other places you can go."
Labels: aid, BP, electricity, Iraq, Karim Hasan
Monday, April 09, 2007
Japan lends Iraq $850 mn for reconstruction
International, Economy, Reconstruction
(AFP) - Japan on Monday lent some 850 million dollars to visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government as the oil-hungry Asian power looks to boost output from the war-torn country. Maliki received a ceremonial audience from Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at their palace in central Tokyo before holding a series of meetings which will culminate in a summit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
"The reason I have come here is to express thanks for Japan's contributions to Iraq," Maliki told reporters as he met with Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma. Maliki was making his first visit to Japan and South Korea, two key economic partners of Iraq, which have both sent troops to help reconstruction of the nation.
Japan announced it had signed an agreement lending 102.8 billion yen (862 million dollars) to Iraq, repayable over 40 years with a 10-year grace period at an interest rate of 0.75 percent a year. The money will go to build the oil facility connecting pipelines in the southern province of Basra. It will also fund fertiliser and oil refinery plants and help improve electricity, a Japanese foreign ministry statement said.
The loan is part of six billion dollars in debt waivers and 1.5 billion dollars in aid which Japan announced for Iraq in 2003. Much of the aid is on hold due to concerns about instability.
"Iraq is important for us in terms of securing stable supply of crude oil. In that context, we would like to form a long-term partnership with Iraq," a Japanese foreign ministry official said.
Japan, the world's second-largest economy, has few natural resources and is almost entirely dependent on the Middle East for its oil.
Japan, which has been officially pacifist since defeat in World War II, took the landmark step of sending 600 troops to Iraq on a reconstruction mission. Kyuma told Maliki he hoped that more Japanese firms would invest in Iraq as soon as it is feasible, according to a defence ministry official.
"The reason I have come here is to express thanks for Japan's contributions to Iraq," Maliki told reporters as he met with Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma. Maliki was making his first visit to Japan and South Korea, two key economic partners of Iraq, which have both sent troops to help reconstruction of the nation.
Japan announced it had signed an agreement lending 102.8 billion yen (862 million dollars) to Iraq, repayable over 40 years with a 10-year grace period at an interest rate of 0.75 percent a year. The money will go to build the oil facility connecting pipelines in the southern province of Basra. It will also fund fertiliser and oil refinery plants and help improve electricity, a Japanese foreign ministry statement said.
The loan is part of six billion dollars in debt waivers and 1.5 billion dollars in aid which Japan announced for Iraq in 2003. Much of the aid is on hold due to concerns about instability.
"Iraq is important for us in terms of securing stable supply of crude oil. In that context, we would like to form a long-term partnership with Iraq," a Japanese foreign ministry official said.
Japan, the world's second-largest economy, has few natural resources and is almost entirely dependent on the Middle East for its oil.
Japan, which has been officially pacifist since defeat in World War II, took the landmark step of sending 600 troops to Iraq on a reconstruction mission. Kyuma told Maliki he hoped that more Japanese firms would invest in Iraq as soon as it is feasible, according to a defence ministry official.
Labels: Basra, electricity, Emperor Akihito, Japan, Nouri Al-Maliki, oil, oil facility, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Turkish company provides electricity in Nasiriyah
Electricity
(Iraq Directory) - A Turkish company started the implementation of a conducting line for electric power linking the electricity station in Nasiriyah with the secondary one at Shatrah. A source in the province of Thi Qar said the Turkish company executing the project has already installed a number of high-pressure columns in the areas of Al- Gharaf, pointing out that the completion of this project will break the bottleneck in the electricity network in Nasiriyah.
Labels: electricity, Nasiriyah, Shatrah, Turkish company
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Generating electricity from solar power
Electricity
(Iraq Directory) - The Head of the Reconstruction Committee in Baghdad City Council, Ali Al-Attar, said that the Council is doing an extensive study for the endorsement of the project of generating electricity from solar energy. Al-Attar said that: “the purpose of generating electric power by relying on solar energy is to reduce dependence on fuel and manufactured machines like geysers, heaters and others, then sell them to citizens at prices subsidized by the government”; he added that: “the Reconstruction Committee gave priority to projects, for the current year, which directly affects the lives of citizens, such as electricity, water, sanitation, health and education."
Labels: Ali Al-Attar, electricity, solar energy
