Power in Iraq's north cut by fuel, Turkey

BAGHDAD, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Gas feeding northern Iraq power generators and supply from Turkey has been cut, hampering an electricity sector also facing regular attacks.

An Iraq Electricity Ministry spokesman said a "technical failure" in an oil field where the gas comes from has shut generators in Mosul, Kirkuk and Baiji, the Voices of Iraq news agency reports.

Aziz al-Shimari added maintenance on a power line from Turkey has reduced electricity supply by 40 percent.

"A technical failure hit the oil field three days ago," Shimari said, "suspending the gas, which feeds the northern generators."

He said it will take an "unspecified amount of time" to fix the Ugail oil field, located in Kirkuk.

Power was affected in Kirkuk, Baiji and Mosul.

"The Iraqi network lost a total of 500 megawatts because of the (suspension) in the Turkish-Iraqi line three days ago due to maintenance works on the Turkish side," Shimari added, "which led to the loss of about 200 megawatts."

On Saturday saboteurs bombed a tower, cutting power between Baiji and areas west of Baghdad.

At least 1,211 workers in Iraq's power sector have been targeted like their colleagues in oil, according to an assessment from March 2003 to Nov. 17, 2007, made for United Press International by an expert in threats and vulnerabilities to the energy sector worldwide.

There have been 651 attacks on distribution and transmission lines and towers, 66 attacks on thermal power stations, five on hydroelectric power stations and 13 on power substations.

Meanwhile, Electricity Minister Karim Waheed Hasan is meeting in Amman with his Jordanian counterpart.

The Al Sabaah newspaper reports Jordan has pledged support and cooperation for enhancing Iraq's power sector.