Iraq blackouts blamed on fuel shortage

BAGHDAD , Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Iraq's Electricity Ministry is blaming the Oil Ministry for current electricity shortages, saying the nation's power generators don’t have enough fuel.

"Electricity generation can hardly meet half of the country's needs," said the ministry's Aziz Shammari. "Power output has never been as worse as it is today since 2003."

Much of the country goes long hours, if not days, without power in the midst of the Iraqi August, where temperatures soar above 100 degrees F.

The Electricity Ministry had been blaming power-producing provinces for eating up more than their electricity quota, as well as regular attacks on electricity infrastructure.

Azzaman reports in English on its Web site that Electricity Minister Kareem Hassan and Oil Minster Hussain al-Shahristani argued about a lack of fuel in Cabinet meetings.

Hassan said Shahristani isn't living up to supply agreements.

Barham Saleh, deputy prime minister of Iraq and head of the Economic Commission, blamed Shahristani for "non-commitment to make available the fuel quantities the Minister of Electricity needs."

Iraq also faces a major fuel crisis, importing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of transportation, heating and cooking fuel each year, still not enough to meet demand.