Baghdad's power nearly doubled

BAGHDAD, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- A U.S. Army brigadier general says the Baghdad electrical grid has nearly doubled the electricity output from a year ago.

One of the U.S. military's senior engineering officers, Army Brig. Gen. Michael J. Walsh, says progress is being made in an effort improve Iraq’s electrical power.

In a conference call from Iraq, Walsh said that all four thermal turbine electricity generators in Baghdad’s Doura district are up and running and four more turbine generators in Mussaib are slated to come online in the next two months.

“You’ll see smoke coming out of all four of them, so we’re pretty pumped about that,” Walsh said.

Officials say the United States has made a $4 billion investment in Iraq's much troubled power gird. Approximately 80,000 employees are working the country’s electricity-producing capability, according to Iraqi Minister of Electricity Karim Wahid al-Hassan.

Walsh say Iraq now averages 13 hours of electric power nationwide daily. Conditions in Basra are significantly better, with an average of 22 hours of electric power daily. And despite Baghdad only receiving eight to 10 hours of power a day, that is nearly double the amount the capital was averaging a year ago.

Iraqi citizens who now have limited access to electricity have continued to express their grievances. Walsh says he understands.

“Until you get 24 hours of power, you’re not going to be happy,” Walsh said.