After years of conflict, Iraq’s national electrical network has been shattered and is only able to provide half of the actual power needed in the country. An enormous amount of technical expertise, equipment, and skilled workers are needed to triple the nation’s capacity in three years—the current target—which Iraq does not currently have.

IRD, through funding from the U.S. State Department, is helping the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity expand its capabilities to take on this challenge. The program will include:

• Finding qualified experts to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Electricity in planning, project management and reporting, and contracting for the vast number of construction and rehabilitation projects to generate adequate and reliable electric power.
• Mounting a major public education campaign to assure the Iraqi public that its government can eventually produce sufficient electricity to meet future demand.
• Teaching English to Iraqi lawyers working for the Ministry of Electricity so they can understand business and legal terms and conduct professional communications with international engineering firms.
• Facilitating exchange visits of Ministry of Electricity senior and mid-level managers to their counterparts’ power facilities in the United States to learn about network technology development, operations, maintenance and sustainment procedures, and management techniques.

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