| News from Iraq |
|
|
 |
| Comments & Analysis |
|
|
|
| Features |
|
|
|
|
|
The Lights Stay Off in Iraq
By: Rosie Garthwaite
Published date: 4/8/2003
The passing of six weeks in the Coalition Provisional Authority’s “long-term program for the reconstruction of the power industry” has brought a 25 percent fall in the output of electricity. The official spokesman of the CPA said that 3200 MW were being produced daily –– that is 400 MW less than in mid-June, and 1250 MW less than was available before the war.
The summer heat has taken its toll on the amount of electricity a power station turbine is able to generate.
“They can only work at 25 percent of their maximum capacity at this time of year,” said Saleh Kasim, Chief Engineer at the Central Dispatch Center in Baghdad.
The heat has affected the hydroelectric power stations too.
“High summertime demand for water means that less is being let out of the dams. The volume of running water is in direct proportion to that of electricity,” Kasim said.
But there is confusion as to why aid has not yet come from the major contractor Bechtel. A questionnaire he had carefully returned to the American conglomerate requesting investment has still not been answered 50 days later.
Kasim explained that the lack of spare parts and bad maintenance has resulted in the closure of various turbines. The remaining turbines are put under such strain that it often leads to the shutdown of the generator altogether, putting extra pressure on the grid.
To add to this, a recent escalation in attacks on fuel pipes across the country has been devastating to a utility which according to Kasim “consumes 80 percent of available fuel products in Iraq.”
All this has meant that whereas a month ago there were 14 hours of electricity available to Baghdadis, there is now a daily average of only 12 –– three hours on, three hours off.
The problems are countrywide, but they have been exacerbated by the system of self-regulation of the distributing governorates.
Left unchecked by the CPA, each governorate aims to maximize distribution to its own area before allocating energy back to Baghdad. Recent increases in the sabotage of transmission lines has meant extra electricity for areas with a lower demand. The efforts of an organized wire-looting group around Basra has given the south an average of about 16 hours a day.
The rebuilding effort –– although beset by problems –– is continuing.
“No generators are still out of service due to the war, but many lines are still down due to a shortage of parts,” said Kasim.
The steady repairs being made by Iraqi companies across the grid are seriously hampered by the security situation.
“Troops can hardly be expected to cover every part of the grid system,” Kasim said.
Low power capabilities were a pet gripe of the sanction years but had always been topped up in summer months by companies abroad. Power industry officials have asked repeatedly for the CPA to place demands on foreign companies to meet their long-established contracts for the supply of power to Iraq but have received little help.
The problem of unpaid wages is breeding disaffection throughout the power industry. The engineers and electricians are unable to charge for electricity until Iraqis can afford to pay, so are entirely reliant on the CPA which has so far paid “very little, a month late.”
The future doesn’t look bright. Kasim warns that any electricity generated will be allocated to Iraq’s industry, which is struggling under present conditions.
Published date: 4/8/2003
Author: Rosie Garthwaite
|
|
|
|
|
