Iraqi government can’t settle electric power problem, PM says

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq ’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has said on Sunday that his government can’t settle the country’s electric power problem alone, without the entrance of investment companies, adding that the power sector needs huge amounts that the state budget can’t insure.   “The government is unable to raise the electric power alone, without the help of investing companies, and we have information that several businessmen wish to invest in the electricity sector,” Maliki told a meeting for the leaders of the Independent Commissions.   He said that “the investors have demanded protection by the security forces, that we were confronted with, adding that they demanded their supply with power and we gave such promise, demanded fuel and the Oil Ministry’s Undersecretary had given such commitment; but the problem, facing the sector are high prices.. and hence: if we allocate all the State budget, it won’t cover the wages of the investing companies.”   Maliki said that Iraq , over the past 7 years, had to paid US$10.5 billions (b) for the companies, investing in electric power sector, to secure an output of 2,500 Megawatts.   Iraq ’s electric power sector is suffering from a huge drop in electric power production, as the government can’t secure more than 10 hours of power, especially in summer months, when the temperature rises for more than 40 degrees Celsius in most areas of Iraq , thing that necessitates electricity to commission cooling systems.   The Iraqi government has taken a series of measures to supply citizens with electric power, through private generators that get free supplies of fuel.   SKH (RT)