• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Iraq steps closer to consistent electricity

Army News Service

Release Date: 8/25/2003

MOSUL, Iraq (Army News Service, Aug. 25, 2003) -- Iraq took one step closer to regaining electrical stability following an Aug. 25 meeting facilitated by the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Dr. Karim, Iraqi director, Commission of Electricity negotiated the purchase of an additional 50 megawatts of electricity a day from Turkish Karadeniz Energy Company. Coalition Provision Authority deputy director of Infrastructure Stephen Browning, and senior adviser to the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, Gary Vogler, also attended.

The purchase adds extra power critical to the country while its electrical infrastructure is being repaired. Electrical power substations were a key target of sabotage during the war. Additionally, looting after the war left many structures in disrepair.

Maj. Roosevelt Samuel, 101st Airborne Division assistant division engineer, said Iraq is operating at a greater than 35 percent electricity deficit. Parts of the country experience power outages of up to 12 hours a day. The purchase of the extra wattage brings the country closer to the goal of 252 megawatts a day, which will allow predictable three hours on, three hours off schedule for electricity throughout Iraq.

"There is a greater than 35 percent energy deficit throughout Iraq," Samuel said. "This long-standing deficit is largely due to the condition of the existing electrical infrastructure and.looting that occurred after the war."

The majority of the damage affected the power plants that distribute power throughout the country, said Samuel. The purchase of the extra 50 megawatts a day from Turkey supplements the existing production of power until those "crippling" structures can be repaired.

"This will raise the standard for the Iraqi people," Samuel said. "Currently, most people in Iraq spend about 12 hours a day without power. This will bring us closer to our goal of a predictable.schedule throughout the country."

Iraq has never had a grid that supported electricity around the clock, Samuel said.

"Even if I could repair every power plant in Iraq, there would still be a 35 percent deficit," he said. "What is going to have to happen is not only refurbishment of existing infrastructure, but a complete expansion of the power generation capability to provide full-time power for the people of Iraq. That is probably at least five years down the road."

"Iraq, with the exception of Baghdad, has never had 24-7 power. But one day, they will be able to do that," Samuel said. "We will continue to peruse other avenues for purchasing the power from other countries. And we will continue to assist in the repair of the existing infrastructure."

(Editor's note: information provided by a 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) news release.)