New electricity distribution system powers province

Photo By Spc. Maurice Galloway | John Naland, Leader of The United States Government Provincial Reconstruction Team in...... read more read more

Photo By Spc. Maurice Galloway | John Naland, Leader of The United States Government Provincial Reconstruction Team in Basra, Iraq discusses the recent completion of a new electricity distribution system in several districts throughout Basra province with local media. "This project was the combined effort of the provincial leadership and the Provincial Reconstruction Team to greatly improve the quality of life for the people of Basra," he said.  see less | View Image Page

BASRA, IRAQ

01.21.2010

Story by Spc. Maurice Galloway 

17th Field Artillery Brigade

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CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq — Members of the 17th Fires Brigade, Provincial Reconstruction Team and influential members of the Basra community gathered at the recently refurbished Al Quibla market Sunday, Jan. 17, to celebrate the completion of 14 U.S. Government funded projects designed to deliver reliable electricity to nearly 15 districts throughout Basra.

"These projects will significantly improve the quality of life for the people in Basra," said Zuhair Shubar, a technical assistant to the Governor for Administrative Affairs. "The Basra area has struggled with the inconsistency of reliable power in the homes of the Basrawi people and now thanks to tremendous efforts on both sides, that problem is solved."

That tremendous effort came in the form of 18,000 homes throughout Basra receiving reliable power at a cost of $5.4 million provided from the PRT through the 17th Fires Brigade Commander's Emergency Relief Program.

John Naland, leader of the PRT, was on hand during the ceremony to address the improving conditions of the communities throughout Basra province.

"Today we celebrate the completion of 14 U.S. government projects that will provide over 137,000 Basra citizens with reliable power and will drastically reduce the amount of power interruptions the city has experienced," said Naland.

"These projects are an example of a partnered effort to meet and address the needs of the people of Basra by the Provincial leaders of Basra and the PRT," Naland added.

Decades of neglect to the electrical infrastructure in the city has caused the electrical blackouts that frustrate the citizens of Basra.

"The end state of the project is a reduction of unscheduled power blackouts in each of the areas," said Capt. Alex L. Young, 7th Engineer Battalion, an engineer who is currently a project purchasing officer with the PRT attached to the 17th Fires Brigade. "A serious amount of poles, transformers and wire were required to establish a new more efficient electrical distribution system for these areas."

The process began with an intense evaluation by the Electrical Distribution Department, that pinpointed the areas that needed upgrading to their current system or needed to have a network established for the first time; two areas are now receiving power for the first time.

Young said that part of the problem with the instability of the network in certain neighborhoods was due to individuals using illegal connections causing local systems to overload and fail.

"One of the problems in the areas was that people were trying to get more power out of the transformers that they could handle," said Young. "These projects create local electrical systems that are capable of distributing higher amounts of electricity with more reliability. They are not physically increasing the amount of electricity in the area, but ensuring that the systems can handle the increasing amounts," Young added.

The PRT recognized the need for a more efficient system of long-term preventative maintenance and has collaborated with the Ministry of Electricity in developing an operations and maintenance training program.

"Our aim is to jump-start their process of effectively maintaining these networks," Young said. "In the past, they would use these transformers until they were no-longer able to operate, a inefficient and costly practice that we hope to eradicate with proper training and mentorship," he added.

With plans for the development of maintenance centers in the districts of Hayyaniyah, Bradia and Hakemeyn, the Government of Iraq continues to demonstrate its commitment to rebuilding the country's infrastructure and economy through on-going projects like this from the Ministry of Electricity.