Record Heat, Politics Inflame Iraq's Electricity Shortages
2020-08-07
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1In Iraq's oil-rich south, the very hot summer months are forcing people to make a difficult choice.
2They can stay home and suffer the extreme heat, or go outside and increase their risk of coronavirus infection.
3That situation describes the daily life of Zain al-Abidin since COVID-19 restrictions brought an end to his job.
4Now, home every day, he listens to his baby daughter cry because she is so hot.
5Public electricity service fails for hours at a time.
6And, Abidin does not have enough money to buy private electric power that could cool his home.
7Temperatures have hit record highs this summer.
8It was 52 degrees Celsius in Baghdad last week.
9Iraq's power supply has again failed to meet demand, leading to a renewal of anti-government demonstrations.
10Iraqi people are under a countrywide lockdown to try to stop the spread of COVID-19. Severe budget measures are also in effect.
11The country is experiencing an economic crisis blamed on the new coronavirus and falling oil prices.
12Politics interfere with Iraqi efforts to import additional energy.
13On one side, Iran is demanding payment for oil it already provided Iraq.
14On the other side, the U.S. is pushing Iraq to seek energy deals from other Gulf nations, say three senior Iraqi government officials.
15The officials spoke on condition that they not be identified.
16In Baghdad, the sound of generators fill the air in the seconds following daily electricity outages.
17Public water stations in the city's streets provide people a way to cool themselves temporarily.
18"We bring our children...and spray them with a hose to cool them down," said townsperson Ahmed Mohamed.
19Protests have delayed reforms to the nation's electricity system.
20Private generator companies also seek to block the reforms that could harm their business interests.
21And Iraq appears at a loss on how to deal with a public unwilling to pay the government for electricity.
22In the summer of 2018, poor electricity service led to large protests in Basra.
23In 2019, even larger anti-government demonstrations halted activity in Baghdad and other parts of the country's south.
24The protestors denounced the widespread corruption that has restricted the supply of services, including electricity.
25In Baghdad last week, Iraqi security forces killed two demonstrators protesting the electric power cuts.
26Aging power lines will cause a 1,000 megawatt drop in power this summer, says Iraqi Electricity Ministry officials.
27Supply already falls 10,000 megawatts short of demand, said a ministry official.
28Emergency measures are already in effect to re-direct power from oil field operations to homes, officials in oil and electricity ministries said.
29There is also the development of a gas hub in southern Iraq to feed the country's power demands.
30But an agreement between Saudi company ACWA Power and American Honeywell to build the hub has not been finalized.
31Meanwhile, Iraqis continue taking to the streets in protest.
32"The protests are the only way to show this injustice," said activist Mohammed Ibrahim.
33I'm Susan Shand.
1In Iraq's oil-rich south, the very hot summer months are forcing people to make a difficult choice. They can stay home and suffer the extreme heat, or go outside and increase their risk of coronavirus infection. 2That situation describes the daily life of Zain al-Abidin since COVID-19 restrictions brought an end to his job. Now, home every day, he listens to his baby daughter cry because she is so hot. Public electricity service fails for hours at a time. And, Abidin does not have enough money to buy private electric power that could cool his home. 3Temperatures have hit record highs this summer. It was 52 degrees Celsius in Baghdad last week. Iraq's power supply has again failed to meet demand, leading to a renewal of anti-government demonstrations. 4Iraqi people are under a countrywide lockdown to try to stop the spread of COVID-19. Severe budget measures are also in effect. The country is experiencing an economic crisis blamed on the new coronavirus and falling oil prices. 5Politics interfere with Iraqi efforts to import additional energy. On one side, Iran is demanding payment for oil it already provided Iraq. On the other side, the U.S. is pushing Iraq to seek energy deals from other Gulf nations, say three senior Iraqi government officials. The officials spoke on condition that they not be identified. 6In Baghdad, the sound of generators fill the air in the seconds following daily electricity outages. Public water stations in the city's streets provide people a way to cool themselves temporarily. 7"We bring our children...and spray them with a hose to cool them down," said townsperson Ahmed Mohamed. 8Protests have delayed reforms to the nation's electricity system. Private generator companies also seek to block the reforms that could harm their business interests. And Iraq appears at a loss on how to deal with a public unwilling to pay the government for electricity. 9In the summer of 2018, poor electricity service led to large protests in Basra. In 2019, even larger anti-government demonstrations halted activity in Baghdad and other parts of the country's south. The protestors denounced the widespread corruption that has restricted the supply of services, including electricity. 10In Baghdad last week, Iraqi security forces killed two demonstrators protesting the electric power cuts. 11Aging power lines will cause a 1,000 megawatt drop in power this summer, says Iraqi Electricity Ministry officials. Supply already falls 10,000 megawatts short of demand, said a ministry official. 12Emergency measures are already in effect to re-direct power from oil field operations to homes, officials in oil and electricity ministries said. 13There is also the development of a gas hub in southern Iraq to feed the country's power demands. But an agreement between Saudi company ACWA Power and American Honeywell to build the hub has not been finalized. 14Meanwhile, Iraqis continue taking to the streets in protest. 15"The protests are the only way to show this injustice," said activist Mohammed Ibrahim. 16I'm Susan Shand. 17The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 18_______________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20generator - n. a machine that creates electricity 21spray - v. to spread water across a large area 22hose - n. the plastic tube used to bring water to an area 23hub - n. a headquarters