Iraq's electricity not improved since US invasion
Iraq, Economics, 5/23/2006

The British government has admitted that there has been slow progress in restoring Iraqi essential services since the US-led invasion, especially in the supply of electricity where the situation is worse.

"Nearly 5,000 megawatts (mw) have been added to the national grid since 2003, but Iraq's average electricity generation has not improved over that period," International Development Secretary Hilary Benn said.

"This is because at the same time as capacity is being added through reconstruction projects, breakdowns of the pre-existing dilapidated systems, shortages of fuel supplies and sabotage are reducing capacity," Benn told MPs.

In a written reply to parliament published Tuesday, he also said that demand for electricity "continues to rise dramatically, as the economy grows and more people own and use electrical goods such as fridges and air-conditioning units." But the International Development Secretary argued that electricity generation was "more equitably" distributed across Iraq since the invasion and that the new Iraqi government will be starting work on a long-term power sector strategy with UK support.

Asked more generally about basic services, he said that "continued violence, especially sabotage directed at key infrastructure, and low (but growing) levels of management capacity in Iraq's national and local government have slowed progress." One challenge, Benn said, was the "lack of data, especially at the regional and provincial level," and was only able to give detail where it was available.

Regarding water supplies, he said they had "improved across the south since the end of the conflict, and sewage systems and water treatment plants are now operating again." Health services were also "gradually being restored throughout Iraq" with hundreds of healthcare facilities rehabilitated and 240 hospitals and 1,200 primary health centers now functioning, the minister further told MPs.

On education, he said "5,168 schools have been rehabilitated throughout Iraq, with a further 450 in progress." By the end of 2006, "more than 133,000 primary school teachers and 47,500 secondary school teachers and administrators will have received training and technical support," Benn added.

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