Newly installed electrical power equipment in Fallujah Iraq

A 132-kilovolt substation in Fallujah, projected for completion in October, will result in more consistent and stable electricity for Fallujah residents.

The $14.8 million project is being managed by the Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq, and funded by the Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Fund.

The substation was damaged in a fire caused by circuit breaker failure in Jan. 2005, and was identified by the Division’s Gulf Region District as a significant capacity-building project for Fallujah.

Maj. Joseph Geary, the officer in charge of the District’s resident office in Fallujah, praised the team for working steadfastly on the project and overcoming various issues, including getting the equipment on site in good condition.

For example, when a transformer arrived damaged, security concerns hindered its delivery to the repair facility in another province. GRD officials and the contractor worked together to negotiate the transport and repair of the critical component. Now, in coordination with Iraqi security forces, the project is progressing along.

“It’s a great story where the contractor, GRD and the Deputy General from the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity all worked together to move this project closer to the finish line,” said Geary.

The transformer is at the factory for repair and is expected to be ready in approximately 60 days. In the meantime, the contractor is continuing to work on the switching equipment and other internal components.

When the 132-kilovolt substation is complete, the Fallujah Minister of Electricity will have more latitude in managing the power grid as it relates to allocating power from area to area.

Improvements at the Fallujah substation will also provide expansion capacity with the addition of another bay and main transformer.

During its peak construction season, construction of the Fallujah substation employed
40 Iraqi workers.

The Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq has completed thousands of reconstruction projects in partnership with the U.S. government and the government of Iraq. Since 2004, GRD has completed 4,626 projects throughout Iraq valued at more than $7.2 billion, and has 287 projects ongoing.

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By Ronald A. Reeves
Gulf Region District

The new U.S. ambassador to Iraq Christopher R. Hill participated in his first ribbon cutting ceremony May 7 at al-Qudas Power Plant, located northeast of Baghdad. The U.S. government has been funding a $176 million expansion project at the existing power plant, which plays a key role in power generation for the Iraqi national power grid.

A site tour and ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by Iraq’s Minister of Electricity, Dr. Karim W. Hasan, marked the completion of the successful, joint venture between the U.S. and Iraqi governments.

“This important addition to the ministry’s inventory of generation sources will help to guarantee the sustainability of our most recent output gains,” said Hasan. “This Qudas expansion project points the way to the day when we will be able to meet the electricity power demands of all the Iraqi people.”

The project was funded through the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund, which was established by the U.S. Congress November 6, 2003, and allocated $18.4 billion to rebuild Iraq’s infrastructure. Al-Qudas expansion project is the final power generation project constructed using IRRF funds.

The U.S. State Department’s Iraq Transition Assistance Office provided program management, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division in Iraq provided contract and construction management of the project. The Ministry of Electricity undertook site work including new water and fuel connections, major tank and piping refurbishments and major electrical connections.

“I am extremely proud of the team that has worked here to expand the Qudas Power Plant’s power generation capabilities, and I applaud the efforts of all involved, particularly our partners at the Ministry of Electricity and the U.S. State Department,” said Maj. Gen. Michael R. Eyre, commander of the Gulf Region Division.

The expansion project is the largest power plant generation project both in scope and dollar amount overseen by GRD. The project, which began in September 2006, included the installment of two new General Electric Frame 9E generators and all supporting infrastructure including a new switch yard, trunk lines and processing center for the crude oil. When operating on crude oil each generator is capable of daily adding 100+ megawatts of electricity to the Iraqi power grid, for a combined 200 megawatts.

This large scale expansion project was Iraqi designed and constructed and will be Iraqi operated. The contract was awarded August 2006 to a joint venture between Uruk Engineering Services Company LLC and Baghdad Company for Gas Turbine, Ltd., both Iraqi-owned companies.

“Iraqis should be proud of their Ministry of Electricity and the Iraqi contractors and workers who have contributed to reaching this important milestone,” said Eyre. “I couldn’t be more pleased at the work we accomplished together, working side-by-side.”

The project provided meaningful jobs to people in the local area, employing as many as 400 Iraqi workers at the height of construction.

Eyre went on to add that the project’s construction provided an invaluable opportunity to develop the Iraqis’ abilities to design and construct their own power plants. “It is probably one of the aspects of this project I am most proud of,” Eyre said.

All safety and operational testing of the two turbines was completed May 4 and the turbines were deemed fully operational. The ministry has signed a letter of acceptability and has assumed responsibility for the daily operations and maintenance of the project.

“In recent surveys the majority of Iraqis are indicating that their number one concern is essential services, where in the past it has been security,” Eyre explained. “Providing essential services to the Iraqi people has been a cornerstone of the construction mission for GRD. Qudas is an example of what we’re all about, building a strong foundation today for Iraq’s future and doing that together.”

Within the electricity sector, using Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Funds, GRD has completed 457 projects, valued at $2.116 billion. These projects fall into three major categories: distribution, transmission and generation.

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