Mosul Dam repairs progress with safety, electricity, irrigation (12/09/05)

The Mosul Dam is being stabilised with an additional $20 million in Iraq Reconstruction and Relief Funds allocated this week. The Iraq Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Electricity have made the dam a top priority for the region, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Dam improvements will help its stability.

The project includes an upgrade of specialised maintenance equipment, seismic monitors, materials and spare parts. A training element is included with the aid package, which USACE believes will help make the project self-sustaining in the future.

New automatic grout-injection equipment included in the project will help arrest seepage under the dam.

Seismic equipment will provide information to monitor the dam’s stability. Both types of work are critical in continuing flood protection, irrigating farmland and maintaining sufficient water to generate 320 MW of electricity.

An Iraqi contractor has been selected for this work as part of an effort to encourage Iraqi economic development and jobs. USACE will provide engineering and quality-control oversight from Gulf Region North near the city of Mosul. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2006.

At the time of transfer of sovereignty in June 2004 to the Iraqi Interim Government, there were just over 200 reconstruction projects started in Iraq. Today 2,827 projects have started - valued at about $6.6 billion. Currently 1,099 projects are ongoing at a program value of about $4.6 billion, and 1,728 projects are completed - valued at about $2 billion.

Source: PortalIraq