Broiling Iraq Looks To Iran For Electricity
Occupation fails, neighbor tries to deliver
"BAQUBA, Aug 7 (IPS) - The crisis over electricity failure grows as summer temperatures climb and a drought plagues Iraq. It is a crisis Iran is using to help Iraqis where the U.S. has failed.
The average house in Baquba, capital of Diyala province north of Baghdad, has less than 12 hours of electricity a day. "I cannot exclude electricity from my thinking; when I think of making any plans, I have to factor the lack of electricity," says local shopkeeper Abdullah Salim.
With temperatures soaring to 55C, lack of fans and air coolers can put people's health, and businesses, at risk. "We cannot work without electricity, because generators are not dependable," Salman Taha, who owns a mechanics workshop, told IPS. "When I decided to purchase an updated model of my bakery, I did not think of electricity," says Mahmood al-Mujamaee. "I could not operate it at all because of the inconsistency of electricity; the bakery needs stable power. It cost around 45,000 dollars. Now, I'm ready to sell for 20,000 dollars."
But bad as it is, the situation has been improving over the past four months – with Iran's assistance. The Bush administration and western companies like Bechtel have failed to deliver on promises to improve infrastructure."
"BAQUBA, Aug 7 (IPS) - The crisis over electricity failure grows as summer temperatures climb and a drought plagues Iraq. It is a crisis Iran is using to help Iraqis where the U.S. has failed.
The average house in Baquba, capital of Diyala province north of Baghdad, has less than 12 hours of electricity a day. "I cannot exclude electricity from my thinking; when I think of making any plans, I have to factor the lack of electricity," says local shopkeeper Abdullah Salim.
With temperatures soaring to 55C, lack of fans and air coolers can put people's health, and businesses, at risk. "We cannot work without electricity, because generators are not dependable," Salman Taha, who owns a mechanics workshop, told IPS. "When I decided to purchase an updated model of my bakery, I did not think of electricity," says Mahmood al-Mujamaee. "I could not operate it at all because of the inconsistency of electricity; the bakery needs stable power. It cost around 45,000 dollars. Now, I'm ready to sell for 20,000 dollars."
But bad as it is, the situation has been improving over the past four months – with Iran's assistance. The Bush administration and western companies like Bechtel have failed to deliver on promises to improve infrastructure."
posted by nolocontendere at 6:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home