Electricity hits three-year low in Iraq (Associated Press)

This report details the sorry state of the Electricity sector in Iraq, and warns of a potential crisis this summer, suggesting that Iraq may have to turn to Iran for help in managing electricity supplies in the near future. The US-led reconstruction has proceeded haltingly and is due to stop imminently, despite grossly under-fulfilled targets. The article highlights the problem of US reconstruction funds being re-allocated towards security costs:

“To battle the insurgency, U.S. authorities shifted more than $1 billion from power projects to security spending. Having planned to add or rehabilitate 3,400 megawatts’ worth of power production, they settled instead for 2,000. The lack of security also slowed work: Fewer than half the 350 local power-distribution projects planned by the Americans had begun as of early this year, the inspector-general reported Jan. 30.”

It also outlines the current funds being made available prospectively for future ’sustainibility’ work, and explains why these funds are likely to be entirely insufficient.