Attack on Baghdad power plant hurts sector

BAGHDAD, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Iraq’s already burdened electricity sector took another hit Thursday as assailants attacked a plant in southern Baghdad, shutting it down.

The casualty count hasn’t been released, but workers were sent to the hospital after an armed group laid siege to the al-Doura power plant, setting one unit on fire and damaging a second, an Iraq Electricity Ministry source told the Voices of Iraq news agency.

“Unknown gunmen attacked last night,” the source said, “depriving thousands of people in and around al-Doura of electricity.”

“The attackers also set ablaze a fire engine while trying to put out the fire,” he added. "Works of the plant rehabilitation needs security to prevail in this hot spot area. The area cannot be controlled easily despite the huge security forces' reinforcements arriving there."

Iraqis nationwide suffer from little regular electricity -- only a few hours per day at best. The security situation in Iraq is one of many major factors. The plants need upgrades and maintenance. The electricity minister has complained of a lack of fuels for the plants, as well as power plants being taken off the national grid to better serve the local area, a hit to central planning for the sector.

Electricity is needed not only to power appliances, especially air conditioners and fans in the sweltering Iraq summer, but to power refineries and other day-to-day services.