Cornerstone laid for first power station in Karbala

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Deputy Premier for Energy Affairs Hussein al-Shahrestani laid the foundation stone for a new power station in Karbala at a capacity of 1250 megawatts, to add about 20% to power production in Iraq if completed as scheduled in 2013. “The station will be implemented by a Turkish company at a cost of $450 million, to be repaid over a deferred payment system as agreed with the Turkish government,” Zahi Samit al-Da’mi, the chairman of the Karbala Provincial Council’s power & fuel committee, told IraqiNews.com news agency. Iraq will import the equipment from U.S. General Electric Company, while the Turkish company will be responsible for erection, implementation and training, he said. The holy Shiite city of Karbala lies 108 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. RM (TP)/AmR 846