First new Iraqi power plant since 1976 connected to national grid (26/08/04)

Construction company Perini made history this month when a newly-completed power plant in Bazurgan, Iraq was connected to the Iraqi electrical grid, the first plant to be constructed and commissioned since 1976.

The new source of electrical power is a welcome addition for the people of southern Iraq, coming at the height of summer with temperatures in excess of 130 degrees fahrenheit. The location of the plant is also of significance, being based in a remote area poorly served by the pre-war distribution system. The plant will also furnish reliable power to a nearby oil field operation, critical for the maintenance of efficient oil production and highly beneficial for the Iraqi economy.

The new plant has been welcomed by the people of southern Iraq

The new plant is designed and equipped to utilise either natural gas or diesel as the operating fuel. In October, there was nothing at the site but a high voltage transmission tower, with gas wells burning in the distance. Perini's team designed and constructed the plant, as well as the adjacent switchyard to connect to the nearby 132kV transmission line.

The team included POWER Engineers of Boise, Idaho as the lead design engineer, with Tetra Tech and General Electric's Aero Energy and Industrial Systems divisions providing specialised support. According to Scott Lancaster of GE's Aeroderivative & Package Services, "this installation and erection of this equipment went faster than any of the others I have erected."

Perini is nearing completion on another 40 megawatt generator installation at an existing power plant in southern Iraq, and has just turned over two refurbished 63 megawatt generators at a second existing plant to the Ministry of Electricity. Together with the Buzurgan plant, these projects will contribute nearly 200 megawatts to the national grid, enough to service an estimated 600,000 Iraqi homes. In April, Perini completed the rehabilitation of 360 kilometers of high voltage transmission line and towers in southeastern Iraq, and the rehabilitation of nine low voltage substations in central Iraq.

All of these projects, for a combined value of $370 million, were awarded under a previously announced contingency contract with the US Army Corps of Engineers. The new power will benefit the local population, which now receives 15-24 continuous hours of power a day, according to Colonel Thomas Koning of the Corps. This is in comparison to approximately only three hours of power per day before the war. Colonel Koning recently spent six months in southern Iraq as the District Engineer of the Corps' Gulf Region Division - South District.

Robert Band, president and chief operating officer of Perini, stated: "This has been some of the most challenging work ever undertaken by our company. While we have a history of completing complex projects in short time frames in our US markets, to complete this amount of work in just 10 months in Iraq was quite a feat. It is a real tribute to the dedication and team spirit of our employees, sub-contractors and the US Army Corps of Engineers. We are very proud of the entire team."

Source: Business Wire