Daquq electricity system wastes 10 megawatts
Some power towers in Kirkuk...Photo Kirkuk Now
Illegal usage of electricity coupled with an old power transition system makes it hard for Daquq district to receive the electricity provided from Kirkuk stations.
Daquq residents complain about the lack of electricity, as the officials blame the old power system for wasting ‘as much power as is received’.
The system was designed in the 1960s and is working until now.
It’s been seven years since 20 villages in Daquq asked for better power provision to no avail. The villages only receive 120 volts instead of 220. “Along with the decrease in electricity provision, its capacity also damages our electrical devices,” according to Hasan Babaali, a resident of the Hawtaghar village.
Last week, the village residents tried to launch a protest for the same purpose, but the police did not allow it. Babaali was one of the organizers, and said “The police promised to solve the issue and did not let us to protest.”
In order to provide 24 hours of power per day, Daquq needs 35 megawatts of power, while it only receives 23.
While the Taza Township Power Station claims to provide 33 megawatts of power to Daquq, a source said, “We only receive 23, since the rest is wasted because of the old power system.”
Amir Khwakaram, who is the chairman of the Daquq District Council confirmed that they used system is old saying, “We have plans to change it, since it wastes power.” The officials have already discussed the issue with the Kirkuk governor, as he has promised to address the issue.
Daquq power generators will be replaced…Photo Zaniyar Daquqi
“The Kirkuk Electricity Directorate has allocated three billion ids to improve electricity in districts and towns, and a portion of this would be spent for Daquq,” Khwakaram said.
As a starting point of their plan, Daquq Council has bought 20 power generators. They will replace the old ones this week.
Some people claim that they have suffered from the lack of electricity, and Basira Darwesh, owner of a poultry shop is one of them. “It’s been six months since we don’t receive power, and I lost two million ids monthly due to this issue. But no one solves our issues.”
The officials attribute the issue to random and illegal usage of electricity by some village residents. “More than 100 farmers use electricity for their farms illegally,” Khwakaram said. “We’ll punish them, as we change the power generators.”
Zaniyar Daquqi – Kirkuk Now
