Electricity
Expanding Access to Electricity
In 2002 Baghdad had access to electricity on a near continuous basis while the rest of Iraq was limited to 3 to 6 hours daily. The U.S. government has made significant progress in improving electricity supply in Iraq and distributing it more equitably throughout the country. USAID recently completed its three-year, $2.3 billion Iraq Infrastructure Reconstruction Program. Through its overall program, USAID has added 1,292 megawatts of electric generating capacity to Iraq's power grid, serving over 7 million Iraqis.
Expanding Access to Electricity
Restoring and improving Iraq's electricity supply has been USAID's biggest and most costly challenge. In April 2003, Iraq's usable electrical generation capacity was 2,500 MW - 58 percent of the pre-conflict level. Before the conflict, access to power was unreliable and varied greatly throughout the country. USAID worked to restore electricity to homes, public facilities, and business throughout Iraq.
USAID has helped increase electrical generation to an average daily peak of approximately 4,500 MW. However, estimated total demand in Iraq is 8,500 MW and the looting of cables, destruction of hightension towers, and sabotage of fuel lines persist. Decades of operation without regular maintenance have resulted in increased breakdown and a need for significant rehabilitation.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Repaired thermal units, replaced/ added turbines, rehabilitated the transmission network, and installed and restored generators.
- USAID has rehabilitated or added 1,292 MW of generation capacity, through new generation, maintenance and rehabilitation work, to the grid through 42 projects, supplying power to approx 8.5 million people.
- Repaired the 400 KV Khor az Zubayr-Nasiriyah transmission line.
- USAID and partners rehabilitated or constructed 25 distribution substations in Baghdad to improve the distribution and reliability of electricity for more than two million residents.
- Over 240 Ministry of Electricity officials, plant managers, and engineers underwent USAID training to properly operate and maintain the power plants.
Back to Top ^
|
