Written question asked by Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Crawley (Labour) on Monday, 21 April 2008.

Iraq: Power Supply

Question: What assistance they are providing to the Iraqi Commission of Electricity in drafting and implementing policy.

Answer: Since 2003 the Department for International Development (DfID) has spent £90 million on infrastructure projects in southern Iraq, of which £84 million has been on the power sector. We have added or secured 415 megawatts of electricity to the Iraqi national grid, and will be adding or securing a further 60 megawatts over the next few months, enough to provide 24 hours of power for around 1 million people. This has been achieved by repairing damaged electricity transmission and distribution networks, including transmission lines from al-Hartha power station to Basra city (securing electricity supplies for 1.5 million residents), and the al-Hartha power station chimney (securing electricity supplies for 340,000 people). DfID is not providing any support to the Iraqi Commission of Electricity in drafting and implementing policy. We have been encouraging the Government of Iraq to approach the World Bank for advice on the energy sector, including power, as we believe that the bank is best placed to provide this assistance.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 700 c251WA; 2688
Session: 2007-08
Subjects: Development aid Electricity generation Electricity Infrastructure Iraq
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk