tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post4431249401153288608..comments2024-02-29T12:38:32.191-08:00Comments on MUSINGS ON IRAQ: Another Hollow Promise By Iraq’s Electricity Ministry, End To Power Shortages By October 2013Joel Winghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-6219361480402622902013-04-18T17:08:38.292-07:002013-04-18T17:08:38.292-07:00Aziz,
Thank you for your insight. I was going to ...Aziz,<br /><br />Thank you for your insight. I was going to mention that the Electricity Ministry didn't start working on power lines, etc. until recently, but I couldn't find any articles on it last night when I was writing the piece. Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-81916723531521766172013-04-18T16:46:51.130-07:002013-04-18T16:46:51.130-07:00Thanks for an accurate analysis of the power probl...Thanks for an accurate analysis of the power problem in Iraq. Of course as we head deeper into the summer the ministry's words will be tested. <br />My 2 cents. In trying to solve the problem(s) the ministry focussed first on production. They waited till 2008 to actually place the orders with GE and Siemens for the turbines. As of 2010 these turbines were arriving in Iraq and just left stored in the open desert in Basra. I guess it was lack of budgets or negligence that stopped the ministry from contracting with companies to build the power plants. These contracts started to flow in mid 2011. Hence what we are seeing this year are those contracts nearing completion with the plants coming online. But transportation and distribution are equally important elements of the power problem. Again nothing much has been done about this until late 2012 and in the past few months. So you are right, we will need another couple of years before the whole infrastructure is overhauled. <br />Having said all this I can confirm that here in Baghdad we have noticed an improvement of supply. We passed the least demand period in March where the ministry boasted they went through 24 hours one day with continuous supply. We are only a few weeks away from the real summer time when all the announcements will be tested.<br />Finally it should be mentioned that power installations such as high tension towers have been subject to sabotage in the past. Also some governates where large plants are located have been known to deliberately opt out of the national grid. Hence affecting other areas in Iraq. This is not to mention the problem of supplying the new power plants with fuel. Every year the ministry of electricity blames lack of fuel on ministry of oil. <br />Our street generator owner has just bought a second generator. Obviously he is betting the government has worked it out wrong once more. Abu Hadihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09485514559443656898noreply@blogger.com