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TIKRIT, Iraq (May 30, 2008) - Northern Iraqi leaders came
together for an energy conference at Contingency Operating Base
Spiecher in the province of Salahuddin recently.
The conference covered the generation, transmission and
distribution of electricity within the northern region of Iraq.
All four northern provinces - Tamim, Diyala, Salahuddin and
Ninevah -- had official representation at the conference, and they
all spoke on their areas within the region.
Officials also represented three Kurdish provinces:
Sulaimaniyah, Irbil and Dahuk.
The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Iraqi military leaders and
coalition soldiers were in attendance to bring awareness of the
energy issues and to develop possible means for resolving some of
the lingering problems northern Iraqis are facing with their
electricity deficit.
Maj. Gen. Salahadin Mustafa Kamal el-Qradg, commander of 4th
Iraqi Army Division, spoke about the Iraqi army military
capabilities and the security issues around the electricity
plants.
"Things are certainly getting better," said U.S. Army Lt. Col.
Butch Graham, division engineer for Task Force Iron and
Multinational Division North.
Northern Iraqi oil companies produced nearly 20 billion barrels
of oil in April. Exported barrels earned more than $1.5 billion for
the Iraqi people.
"These efforts have been critical to keeping the power plants
running, industries producing, and the home cooking stoves lit,"
Graham said.
With many questions and ideas for long- and short-term plans
batted back and forth between the attendees, there were concerns of
financial strain on the provinces and security restraints. Military
and government leaders and engineers spoke about interim solutions
to the energy issues while the Iraqi provinces work to grow their
larger generation plants.
"We have an unbelievable opportunity in this point in the
history of Iraq, not to be penny wise and megawatt poor, so if we
can tolerate a little inefficiency for the next two years, there is
a risk of growing Iraq and bringing this nation together," said
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Tony Thomas, deputy commander of Multinational
Division North. "I would say that this would be money well
spent."
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