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    Small village gets safe, reliable electricity

    Small village gets safe, reliable electricity

    Courtesy Photo | AL BETOUL, Iraq -- A forest of poles and lines dot the landscape at Al Betoul. In...... read more read more

    AL BETOUL, IRAQ

    10.11.2005

    Courtesy Story

    DVIDS Hub       

    Maj. Russ Goemaere
    2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO

    AL BETOUL, Iraq - A project to bring safe electricity to current and future residents of Al Betoul, a small village east of Baghdad, is complete.

    The project, started in November 2004, brought modern electrical connections to all 715 lots in the neighborhood. Along with the replacement of all the residential power cables, the installation of 20 large 250-kilovolt transformers, 475 poles, 42 250-amp circuit breakers and street lights rounded out the project.

    "I am very happy with the completion of the project," said Yasser Kadhem, a resident of the community. "I used to string phone cable over existing power lines to get power for my family. It was very unsafe. Now we have safe power hookups for all our homes."

    Kadhem said he needs electricity for a refrigerator, air conditioning unit, television, fans and lights. Electricity in his area is on for three hours and off for three, but he sees no reason to have an additional power source.

    The Al Betoul project is an innovative project for the Iraqi government. In east Baghdad, it was normal for homeowners to build a home without first considering hook-ups to city water, sewer or power.

    Al Betoul is now a community where poles and wires are in place for future residents to connect to.

    "A lot of people want to build on the empty lots because they know this area has power and will soon have water as well," Kadhem said.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.11.2005
    Date Posted: 10.11.2005 16:41
    Story ID: 3273
    Location: AL BETOUL, IQ

    Web Views: 161
    Downloads: 78

    PUBLIC DOMAIN