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BAGHDAD (May 28, 2008) - Businesses and residences of southwest
Baghdad will soon benefit from the recent completion of electricity
transmission lines and the energizing of a major substation
today.
The al-Rasheed 400kV substation was energized May 28, 2008 on
the 400kV electrical grid only a few days after the Iraqi Ministry
of Electricity completed the hook up of a new 11 kilometer 400kV
transmission line to the station.
"While this is not a generation station, it will however
increase reliability of power for all people in southwest Baghdad,"
said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Johnson, Gulf Region Division government
lead for electricity transmission and distribution projects in
Iraq. "It will connect them directly to the 400kV grid and it is a
much more reliable, much more stable source of power than what they
are used to having."
Johnson said the energizing of the substation is a tremendous
example of partnership.
"I think that it's awesome," he said. "It's a success story of
interaction between the Government of Iraq's Ministry of
Electricity and the Army Corps of Engineers where the two sides
work together and come to a common point at the point in time when
they are supposed to. I think it is one of the success stories of
the reconstruction of Iraq."
Johnson explained that a substation converts electricity from
one voltage level to another. In the case of the al Rasheed 400kV
substation, modern Gas Insulated Switchgear in the facility
protects the new transmission lines while new transformers "step
down" the 400 kV power from the transmission lines to 132 kV for
distribution to southwest Baghdad. In those neighborhoods power is
stepped down further by transformers to the consumer level of 220
volts, 50 amperes.
Johnson said reliability, from the perspective of the consumer,
is having power when you expect to have power, but that service in
Iraq will remain well below the western standard of 24 hours of
power a day for several more years. Only lines feeding essential
services such as hospitals, police stations and water and sewage
facilities, are energized around the clock due to limited
generation capacity.
"While we are not able to bridge the difference in [generation]
capacity and demand...we can at least guarantee them that 40-50
percent of their day they will have power, rather than the 10 or 20
percent that they are having now," he said.
Across Iraq, the construction of new, dependable electricity
transmission and distribution lines, substations and transformers
goes hand in hand with increasing electricity generation in
gradually improving the extremely underfunded, antiquated electric
grid.
"This is a brand new substation with brand new transmission
lines coming out of it...this will be an increase in capacity for
transmission of power to their homes, and on a day to day basis
they will see more electricity for longer periods," Johnson
said.
Maj. Timothy Reed, Civil Affairs Officer for the 1st Brigade,
4th Infantry Division operating in southwest Baghdad, said Soldiers
on the street do see an impact after completion of reconstruction
projects. "The big thing is people are more satisfied when things
get done, when they have more electricity they are more welcoming.
You'll see more people come out and greet you," Reed said. "It's
always a great time to go out and meet the people and shake the
hands. Because you know you are doing the right thing, they know
you are doing the right thing. They are more open to you. They are
more willing to give you more tips when you show that you provide
for them, they will provide for you."
Work on the almost $38 million Iraq Relief and Reconstruction
Fund project began April 15, 2006. Although a new substation, the
project was actually a rebuild of a previous effort.
Construction of the substation originally known as Baghdad
Central 400kV substation began under the Oil for Food program in
2001 but was abandoned in 2003 when approximately 80 percent
complete.
In the aftermath of the downfall of Saddam Hussein's regime, the
substation suffered heavy looting and all moveable and readily
re-usable equipment was stolen. The buildings also suffered
extensive damage and most low voltage and control cables were
stripped. All protection and all 400 kV and 132kV control cubicle
panels were damaged beyond repair, according to reports.
Starting essentially from scratch, the project installed the
400kV Gas Insulated Switchgear and 400kV Air Insulated Switchgear
for four overhead line bays and four 250MVA transformer bays that
are configured as a dozen - 400/132kV 83MVA single phase auto
transformers and an additional spare.
Also included in the project was the 132kV Gas Insulated
Switchgear rehabilitation, replacement of the 11kV switchgear, low
voltage switchgear, low voltage cables and control cables; and
refurbishment of all buildings and building services for the
facility.
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