Drought Could Affect the Development of Hydropower in Iraq

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--All of Iraq's existing hydroelectric power stations are at risk due to low water levels. Three consecutive years of drought have put hydropower, as well as agriculture and drinkable water, in danger. Lack of water may force the Iraqi government to shut down existing hydroelectric facilities. Though the four hydropower stations are not operating at maximum capacity, the loss of what electricity they do provide could make the Iraqi grid far less stable.

Drought also could threaten the development of future hydroelectric power stations being planned for the Kurdistan region, which suffers the most from lack of electricity. The Iraq Ministry of Electricity (Irbil, Iraq) has three new power stations in the books, two for the Arbil governorate and one for the Dahuk governorate. Each of the power stations is supposed to see construction efforts by 2012, with completion dates set for late 2014 through mid-2015. If the projects are not delayed due to persisting drought and construction proceeds, the three power stations could provide an additional, much-needed 260 megawatts of electricity to the region.

Before the Gulf War, Iraq had a total installed capacity of nearly 10 gigawatts (GW); however, nearly 70% of the country's power plants were crippled during the war, and capacity plunged to little more than 2 GW. Over the years and throughout two wars, Iraq's electrical capacity has been slow to grow, but it has finally surpassed pre-Iraq War levels. Iraq now generates more than 6 GW, but the country is still slammed with frequent blackouts and the energy crisis is growing worse in northern Iraq, which is also known as the Kurdistan region.

The majority of Iraq's energy is generated through the use of fossil fuels, while the minority is accounted for by hydroelectric dams. Iraq has four hydroelectric dams, which are capable of generating more than 2.3 GW at full capacity. Unfortunately, due to decay and falling water levels, especially for those dams located on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the total installed capacity of hydroelectric power fell far below that. Two power stations in the Kurdistan region, the Dukan and the Darbandikhan, were selected by the World Bank (Washington, D.C.) for immediate repairs in 2007. The Dukan and the Darbandikhan power stations had the potential to affect nearly 500,000 homes if they were brought to full, rehabilitated status, and Iraq ratified the loans quickly, seeing to the restoration of the power stations.

View Project Report - 96000007 96000008 96000009

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. IIR's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.