Only a year ago, reliable electricity in Sab al Bour was just a dream.

The city, just north of Baghdad along the Grand Canal, was practically deserted, with only diehard residents and pockets of insurgents sticking around in the dark.

As of Nov. 8, 2008, residents in this small agricultural city are literally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, according to sheik Nadeem Hatem al Tamimi, an influential leader in the area. Outside the city’s new electrical substation, the sheik spoke literally and metaphorically about the town’s emergence from darkness.

“We had evil forces trying to kill Iraqis … and they destroyed all essential services,” he said, describing insurgent attempts to control the city and population. “Today, we are calling for unity between all people of Iraq.”

The top coalition forces leader in the Taji area said he believes peace and stability starts with electricity and was at the event to congratulate Sab al Bour on its achievement.

“Reliable and sustainable access to power allows businesses to flourish, water to crops, schools to educate our children and light on the dark nights of the Iraqi winter” said Col. Todd McCaffrey, commander of 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat “Warrior,” 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. “Sab al Bour is now postured to accept the return of its rightful residents.”

The rightful residents McCaffrey referred to is a large portion of Sab al Bour’s citizens that fled due to violence and lack of essential services. The internally displaced people are now returning at a rate of up to 50 families per week.

If the substation opening only meant more electricity, it would be meaningful enough. But the impact of this substation doesn’t stop with keeping the lights on. It will have a direct and immediate positive effect on other essential services in the area.

First, there’ll be more drinkable water. Purification stations of course rely on electricity to produce potable water.

Even more significantly, irrigation pumps in the area will work harder and longer. Soon, passing helicopters will notice large swaths of farmland turn from a dirty brown to lush green, all thanks to the substation, said Capt. Mark Gillman, the engineer at Warrior Brigade in charge of electrical reconstruction.

“The pump station, due to power improvements, will irrigate thousands of acres of farmland with little interruption from blackouts,” said Gillman, who provided oversight and expertise for the otherwise Iraqi-ran project.

Because the Sab al Bour area depends heavily on agriculture, the local economy should get a noticeable boost. Gillman, who is originally from Las Vegas, explained how all of the intertwined projects, which depend on electricity, are part of a “tailored network.”

“It started with the Ministry of Electricity, which brought up to 30 people in here at a time. They really set the pace for the other ministries,” Gillman said. “There was a lot of government of Iraq support for this small, mostly Sunni community.”

Attendees marked the substation’s opening with a ribbon-cutting, tour and then singing and dancing. As they celebrated their victory and announced the lights were on to stay, they proclaimed they could move on to other goals.

“Now we will ask for other things – forgiveness and unity,” said the last speaker at the event. “Let’s now bring together all Sunni and Shia in Iraq.”

DVIDS
By Ken Griffin
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat, 25th Infantry Division

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.

MNF-I
by Grant Sattler
Gulf Region Division

Have you read this in your paper? Nope. The third of five surge brigades will be coming home in the next several weeks. Umm… misson accomplished!

Approximately, 3,500 Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division are redeploying to Fort Benning, Georgia, in the next several weeks.

The 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team deployed in March 2007 to secure the Mada’in Qada in Baghdad Province east of the Diyala River.

The brigade was one of five units deployed in support of the surge.

The 3rd HBCT’s operations in Mada’in Qada helped improve the safety and quality of life for approximately 120,000 people living there. Its contributions over the last 14 months have led to improvements in security and the capture of more than 600 criminals, numerous cache finds, and a remarkably lower number of attacks in the area.

The improvements in security enabled merchants to reopen shops, and the local government to establish rule of law and employment through programs such as the Sons of Iraq.

“The 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division inherited battle space with a history of sparse security force presence prior to 2004,” said Brig. Gen. Dan Allyn, chief of staff, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. “Their aggressive efforts in partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces and comprehensive initiatives like the Sons of Iraq, successfully reduced sectarian violence and attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces, producing economic growth and restoration of essential services in Mada’in Qada.

“We are extremely proud of the Sledgehammer Brigade Soldiers, and their success in creating a safe and secure environment while instilling hope for the future within the people of Mada’in Qada,” Allyn said.

Many of the leaders in 3rd HBCT attribute their success to veterans of the Brigade. Nearly 65 percent of the Brigade’s Soldiers are serving their second or third deployment in Iraq.

“The mission given to us by Corps and Division was to interdict lethal accelerants coming into Baghdad,” said Col. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr. of Prince George County, Md., the commander of the 3rd HBCT. “I’d say we achieved mission success.”

Grigsby also feels his veterans’ professionalism was as important as their experience, bringing mentorship and confidence to newer Soldiers. This is the 3rd Brigade’s third tour in Iraq since January 2003.

The 3rd HBCT is the third of the surge Brigades to redeploy.

The remaining two brigades will redeploy by the end of July.

“The continued drawdown of surge Brigades demonstrates continued progress in Iraq. After July, commanders will assess our security posture for about 45 days and determine future force requirements based on these conditions-based assessments,” said Allyn.

MNF-I

DVIDS
By Spc. Nathaniel Smith
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs

Since 2003, people all over Iraq have been looking for signs of improvement in the establishment of essential services and the security necessary to return to a normal life.

On Feb. 25, they didn’t need to look any further than in Doura, known as the “Heart of Darkness,” where the Bilat primary school opened – thus paving the way for a better future for the children of Baghdad.

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DVIDS
By 1st Lt. Tiffany Bilderback, Fires Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, MND-B

Iraqi Ministry of Electricity representatives, local Public Works Battalion electrical specialists, United States Army Corps of Engineer representatives and coalition forces conducted a joint assessment of the regional to local electrical power network Jan. 22 to improve power distribution in the eastern and central Agur Quf area north of Baghdad.

The Ministry of Electricity representatives have begun several local repairs to lines running from the Sa’ad sub-station, which is located north of Baghdad, with the help of locally hired Public Works Battalion workers from the village of Fira Shia.

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