Turning on the lights

A list of electrical priorities hung on the wall in Baghdad: hospitals first, then water plants, sewage, business and industry.

A huge chart of the electricity grid was also stuck on the wall inside the ornately roofed room once inhabited by the privileged few Ba’athist leaders.

The electricity committee of the U.S. Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance on Tuesday held the first of three meetings on restoring power to Iraq.

Electricity is the key to rebuilding the war-torn country because it allows industry to restart and water to flow, as well as bringing light.

“The whole of greater Baghdad is energized,” said the U.S.-appointed electrical commission chief, Karim Hassan. “We’ve had to cut some corners and improvise to get things linked up.”

The amount of electricity inside the system is 1,000 megawatts, less than half of Baghdad’s previous output. But specialists at the meeting said it should be sufficient for citizens’ needs, given that industry, a huge consumer, has barely restarted, and that the Iraqi armed forces have disappeared, along with their considerable demands for power.

The problem, though, lies in the distribution; specifically at the substations.

“With this amount of power available, I need to see more houses with their lights on,” said Gen. Steven Hawkins, the utilities task-force commander, who works with Mr. Hassan. “It’s just not good enough. I can’t understand why it’s not happening. More power, more power.”

Some ideas emerged on how to supplement electricity supplies.

For example, hydropower is not being tapped.

Complaints abounded about thieves undoing reconstruction work, often stripping wires of their valuable copper.

One Iraqi official suggested a solution to a problem in east Baghdad, where seven substations have been put out of action: “Let’s pay the tribes to guard the facilities. That way they can stop their guys from stealing and make just as much money.”

Outside help is also needed but not readily available. Russian and German companies that provided power services disappeared as the war began in March. They are coming back — but only to discuss feasibility and security issues.

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