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'Coin of the Realm' Powers Iraqi Citizens

Nov- 4-2008 » Filed Under: 2/25 SBCT

By Maj. Al Hing, 2/25 SBCT

CAMP TAJI — In early January 2008 a U.S. military brigade’s tour began by focusing on the importance of essential services to the Iraqi people with electricity at the top of the list. Ten months later, Coalition forces and the Ministry of Electricity have made significant strides with their efforts.

“Electricity is the coin of the realm; without it, water for the crops doesn’t flow, lights aren’t on and people don’t have quality of life,” said Col. Todd McCaffrey, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

Improvements have brought better electrical systems to the residents of Sab al Bour, Tarmiyah, Nassir Wa Salam, Abu Ghuraib and Taji.

“Sab al Bour was abandoned and looted of all electrical lines and equipment a year ago,” said Capt. Mark Gillman, brigade engineer in charge of electric reconstruction. “Today it is very different, with the Government of Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity and local directorates. They’re pushing it to the last mile. The coalition built the electric backbone, but the Ministry of Electricity is pushing it to homes.”

To ensure the maintenance of the electrical grid, the MoE is standing up Electrical Line Refurbishment Teams. The ELRTs are trained by Iraqi electrical technical experts in the classroom and then hands-on training.

“The ELRTs are equipped, trained and given all necessary repair knowledge for our electrical networks,” said Qassim Mohamed Kalil, the primary ELRT instructor from Baghdad. “We have two more teams to instruct and qualify [ELRTs in] Abu Ghuraib and Nassir Wa Salam. They’ll cover the areas where we need repair teams to keep electricity flowing to the people.”

Kalil retired from the MoE after 37 years and currently spends his time teaching. He was director of Baghdad University’s electrical technology department, and is familiar with the electrical grid around Baghdad.

“What we see now is the electrical lines need repair teams to keep them functioning. Along with the Ministry of Electricity and local electrical directors, we will continue to improve services,” said Kalil.

The ELRT student teams consist of engineering university graduates, technical institute graduates and electricians.

“We teach them everything from the ground up – from wires to transformers to how the grid functions,” said Kalil. “They are the future fix-it teams of the electricity grid.”

During the past 10 months there have been significant changes, said Gillman. Those changes stem from cooperation between all agencies involved in repairing and rebuilding Iraq’s electrical systems.

“This, along with the security gains, allows the Iraqis to move forward,” stated Gillman.


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