AL DIWANIYAH — The Al Diwaniyah 132kV substation in southern Iraq’s Qadisiyah Province is scheduled for completion this fall. Currently 82 percent finished, this massive project has sparked the interest of Al Diwaniyah’s 400,000 residents and local officials.
According to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region South District Iraqi Engineer Sahib Dukman, the project was originally planned in 1982. Dukman explained that at that time the Iraqi Government developed an electrical master plan, but projects under the plan were delayed due to what Dukman called Saddam Hussein’s bad behavior.
“The 132 kV substation in East Diwaniyah is very important for the electrical grid in this region. This new substation will reduce the load currently on two 33/11 kV substations built in 2003 to a reasonable level,” said Dukman. “The substations built in 2003 are part of the master plan developed by the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity but were not built to handle the current demand for power,” he added.
“More substations are being built throughout the Qadisiyah Province and when finished will link together, forming a stabilized grid,” explained Gulf Region Division Construction Representative John De Los Santos. “With the help of Iraqi Engineers like Dukman working with contractor Pauwels International who has employed hundreds of local Iraqis, this $25 million project is nearly complete.”
Dukman said the Qadisiyah Province deputy governor recently visited the site and was impressed with the quality of construction.
Once completed, the contractor will test, energize and commission the substation working directly with Ministry of Electricity officials ensuring the facility meets their standards.
(By Alicia Embrey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region South District)