SubscribeRussia Resumes Electrical Contracts In Iraq
From a gleeful Kommersant Moscow:
Russia to Light Up Iraq
August 19, 2007
Russia will proceed with executing electricity contracts in Iraq. The RF Energy Minister Sergei Shmatkov and Iraq’s Minister of Electricity Karim Wahid Hasan deliberated on potential cooperation yesterday. The first project could be rebuilding the Harta Thermal Plant by Tekhnopromexport. Russia’s chances to benefit from over $10 billion that Iraq intends to inject into its electricity facilities appear rather solid now.
Sergei Shmatko met with his Iraqi counterpart yesterday, August 18, 2008. The highlight was the rebuilding project for Harta Thermal Plant executed by Russia’s Tekhnopromexport. The company won the tender far back in 1990s, but the war in Iraq prevented it from beginning the work.
The war in the Persian Gulf lowered the installed capacity of Iraqi power plants to 5.5MW, while the actual requirement is 10,000MW during a year and up to 12,000MW in summer. The Iraqi authorities specified earlier that rebuilding the electricity sector calls for between $10 billion and $15 billion.
Tekhnopromexport is the three-time successful bidder for Harta, having won the respective tenders in 1997, 1999 and 2007. This plant of 400MW capacity operates on oil fuel and gas. The company is ready to start rebuilding provided the issues of security and the 1.5-year growth in prices for material and equipment are taken into account, said Tekhnopromexport briefer Natalia Starodumova.
Er, why are we rewarding the selfsame Russians who have armed our enemies in Iraq? Who are currently doing all they can for our enemies like Iran?
At a time when the administration is flailing around for ways of punishing the Russians for their wanton invasion and occupation of Georgia?
The company won the tender far back in 1990s, but the war in Iraq prevented it from beginning the work.
So this is a contract dating back to when Russia was doing all it could to help Saddam Hussein.
Why should the current government honor it?
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10 Responses to “Russia Resumes Electrical Contracts In Iraq”
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August 19th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Apart from the billionaire gangsters who pilfered the natural resources in Russia, the rest of the country is an economic basket case. They can hardly afford televisions in the rural areas, let alone the electricity to run them.
Their power grid is supplied with nuke and coal plants built to Soviet standards. Hardly the model for a modern country. This alone should disqualify them let alone the slow down of natural gas to the Czech Rep, invasion of Georgia, threats against the Poles, attempted assassination of Ukrainian president, their coziness with Hussein, etc.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
We are installing, ostensibly, a free market. Lowest, most responsible bidder wins.
It’s like free speech, we may not like some of it. The free market has a way of undermining statist and top down command economies. The free market liberates in ways no political system can.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
“We are installing, ostensibly, a free market. Lowest, most responsible bidder wins.”
“Responsible” might be the key word there.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Watt a re-volting development.
Sorry, I’m wearing down.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
August 19, 2008?
August 19th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Thank God for the ruskies dominance in nuke technology and treachery . Yes , give the contract to the ones , that still have to clean up their last great triumph . Chernobyl . Sarc/off .
August 20th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Totalitarianism is no match for Capitalism. When will the billionaire capitalists in Russia tell Putin to “Sit Down & Shut Up!
It was one thing when no one had any power in Russia but the state. Now, hopefully at least, the real power - the money class - will neutralize Vlad “The Bed Wetter.”
Seriously, the boy’s got issues.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Perdido — I’m all for free markets when corruption, bribery and political quid pro quo are not involved. This contract was awarded under a totalitarian, corrupt and brutal regime that paid no attention to free market economics unless it could be used in some way to bolstered their power and add to their stolen wealth. it unfortunately that the Iraqis govt intends to honor an award granted by the despot we deposed — they clearly are not awarding bids based on fiduciary evaluation standards. Nonetheless, if they want a boondoggle for a grid and another Chernobyl on their hands, all I can say is good luck.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Perdido — I’m all for free markets when corruption, bribery and political quid pro quo are not involved. This contract was awarded under a totalitarian, corrupt and brutal regime that paid no attention to free market economics unless it could be used in some way to bolstered their power and add to their stolen wealth. It’s unfortunately that the Iraqis govt intends to honor an award granted by the despot we deposed — they clearly are not awarding bids based on fiduciary evaluation standards. Nonetheless, if they want to take their chances on a third-world grid and possibly another Chernobyl, I wish them the best of luck.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Boys & Girls.
They’re Arabs! Don’t try to figure it out. With the US & Nato sitting on their thumbs while Russia is muckin’ up its neighbors, what did you expect? It’s called a hedge.