Iraq - Main obstacle to stable electricity

is prosperity.

One of the weakest links in the electrical supply chain is the transformer. Most of Iraq's date from the 1950's and 60's. With Iraq's burgeoning economy coupled with increased personal prosperity, Iraq's are buying electrical goods at a phenomenal rate.

Most of Iraq's electrical structure dates back to the 1950s and 1960s, when the country first built much of its current capability. In addition, during the Saddam Hussein era of the 70s, 80s and 90s, little resources were devoted to maintaining, upgrading or expanding electric power networks. The meager resources that were devoted were mostly used to enhance the capital city of Baghdad or focused on Saddam's palaces across the country. The results of that neglect has been raising its ugly head for the past year.

Furthermore, "Individual Iraqis are experiencing a prosperity that was unheard of during the Saddam years," Tyler said, "Many Iraqis are now working and purchasing items that were once beyond their means or only permitted for a select few under Saddam's rule. The average Iraqi is now buying air conditioners, fans, TVs, refrigerators and appliances, cell phones and computers, which were once unavailable to them, and this has increased electrical demands everywhere," he said.” As a result, he continues, "The old lines and transformers cannot sustain the demands or loads being places on them and they're overheating, overloading and failing."

Tyler explained that many Iraqis don't understand that they can't connect multiple high amperage appliances to a line designed for one appliance or a simple light without a meltdown or burn out somewhere along the system.