By Suzanne M. Fournier
Gulf Region Southern District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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(Photo by Gulf Region Division) |
Base Camp Adder (Ali Base) Iraq – Today, the Khor Az Zubayr Power Plant is officially operating under the Ministry of Electricity and providing 250 additional mega watts of power generation to the Iraqi national power grid. Construction started at the power plant in December of 2004 and completed on schedule one year later. Training for plant operators concluded in March at the facility, located 20 to 25 kilometers south of Basrah. The two new 125 mega watt generators adds 5 percent more power to the national grid which doubles the power being produced at the existing plant with four older units.
Iraq’s power system has not had any real investment for several decades. When the Coalition forces arrived three years ago, almost all power generation, transmission, distribution and control systems were need of maintenance, repair or replacement.
The new power generation station at Khor Az Zubayr was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers using Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund. The $128 million contract included the assembly and commission of generators purchased in the 1980s by the former regime through the United Nations Oil for Food Program. The turbines, transformers, pipes, frames and other required parts were located at multiple ports throughout the world; from India to France. After coalition forces arrived in Iraq, the parts were assembled and transported to Khor Az Zubayr. More than 500 local Iraqi workers were employed at the construction site helping to assemble the generators, laying foundations and constructing support facilities. The construction and trade jobs provided income to families and boosted the local economy through local contracts, procurement of materials and services.
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(Photo by Gulf Region Division) |
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(Photo by Gulf Region Division) |
The plant has been a flurry of activity since commissioning started in late November. Recent visitors to the plant included a U.S. State Department sponsored media tour February 11. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region South District hosted 16 western media representatives from major television networks, radio and print journalists flown from Baghdad International Airport to Basrah International Airport and transported by the British Royal Air Force to the plant by Merlin Helicopter.
The Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the US Army Corps of Engineers, LTG Carl A. Strock toured the Khor Az Zubayr Power Plant and conducted media interviews for broadcast in Iraqi news media in January. The Khor Az Zubayr plant will generate a substantial amount of power which will be transmitted and distributed across the country. Additional electric projects are ongoing. Although electricity is not at levels expected by U.S. residents, most Iraqi families are now getting more electricity than ever before; some for the first time ever.