Iraq signs deal with Alstom
BASRA, IRAQ - French utility company Alstom announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Iraq to develop the country's crumbling electricity grid.
Patrick Kron, chief executive officer at French company Alstom, signed the MOU with the Iraqi oil ministry and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The measure includes work at three oil-fired units in the southern port city of Basra. Each facility could produce as much as 400 megawatts of energy.
A project in the holy city of Najaf involves the rehabilitation of a gas-fired power plant with 180 MW of installed capacity. Other work involves the supply of electrical substations scattered throughout the country.
Despite holding some of the largest oil and natural gas deposits in the world, parts of Iraq suffer from rolling blackouts.
Officials working in the energy sector of Iraq said the government wasn't allocating enough money to the energy grid to avert sweeping power outages.
Iraqi police in June opened fire on demonstrators protesting against power shortages in Basra, killing two in southern port city.
Residents in parts of Basra said they have about 6 hours of electricity each day.
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