Gov’t to allocate 77 billion dollars to electricity sector – Minister

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Minister of Electricity disclosed that the government will allocate 77 billion dollars to finance a long-term project to increase electricity production in the country, pointing to the final touches for an investment project at a cost of 22 billion dollars lasting through until 2015, the Turkish Hurriyet Daily News reported.   The paper quoted Minister Ala’ D. Zamil today as saying that the Iraqi government tried to develop the electrical network which was devastated by the wars, pointing out that some of the Turkish companies which are implementing power generation projects in the country, expressed their interests in the project.   The minister added that the Iraqi government is planning to invest 22 billion dollars in the first stage which will last until 2015.   Turkish Shalik Company will work in Karbala province to build a power station  with a capacity of 2000 megawatts.   The paper added that Turkey is exporting electricity to Duhuk province.   Experts believe if these projects are implemented, Iraq will be able to export electricity to Turkey. RM (TI)/SR 461