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Iraq reconstruction gathers pace

An EPCglobal product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 2, 2003

The Iraq Capital Construction Contract has moved forward considerably over the last month.

The Iraq Capital Construction Contract has moved forward considerably over the last month.

Vital preparation surveys have been completed by the Bechtel Corp and submitted to USAID for review.

In mid July the list of projects was approved and orders authorising the spending of government money have now been issued.

The project proposals followed months of survey work.

Full examinations and reports were undertaken across the electrical network.

This approach contrasts dramatically with the years of quick fix measures employed under the Saddam regime.

Engineers, under threat of imprisonment, spent years patching up the grid, robbing Peter to pay Paul and allowing blackouts in rural areas in order to keep the lights on in Baghdad.

Bomb damage is an issue in places, but the damage caused by years of mismanagement and underinvestment is the real issue.

Sabotage is turning the reconstruction into a three steps forward, two steps back process.

Saboteurs continue to slow progress by targeting specific areas of the network.

The frustration grows amongst the majority of Iraqis who are desperate for a reliable electrical supply.

EPCglobal continues to prepare for British involvement in the region.

It is likely that the commencement of extensive repairs will lead to a cooling in local resistance.

As the temperatures of high summer drop away, it is hoped that the more temperate weather will lead to a drop in civil unrest.

Once the recovery operation gets underway, it should be able to accelerate steadily as jobs are created for local people and conditions improve for Iraqis on the ground.

Richard Spragg of EPCglobal expects the projects to begin in earnest towards the end of the year.

"It seems likely that now the survey work is done, the detailed repairs will gather speed", he says.

"As soon as some of the effects of these repairs are felt at ground level, the atmosphere on the streets of Iraq will stabilise and allow the rebuilding work to pick up further speed.".

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