IRAQI INFRASTRUCUTURE SNAPSHOT - SEPT. 21, 2005

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003907

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2015
TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET MCAP MOPS PGOV PINR PTER PREL IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI INFRASTRUCUTURE SNAPSHOT - SEPT. 21, 2005

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES DAVID SATTERFIELD FOR REASONS 1.4 (b)
AND (d)

ENTIRE TEXT SECRET

SUMMARY: Protecting critical energy infrastructure remains a
major challenge. Critical nodes and thousands of miles of
power and pipe lines present numerous opportunities for
insurgents and criminals to attack. In addition, the old and
decrepit infrastructure found throughout Iraq continuously
fails and is in need of constant emergency maintenance.
Embassy is committed to doing all that is possible to assist
the Iraqis to protect energy infrastructure and increase
output. Embassy's Infrastructure Security Task Force meets
weekly and has drafted an action plan that will be presented
to the Iraqi Transitional Government's National Energy
Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Chalabi
(septel.) Below is a snapshot of the infrastructure security
picture as of September 21. END SUMMARY.

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ELECTRICITY
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-- For the 24 hours ending at midnight September 20, the
peak electrical output was 4923 MW. This allowed the
delivery of electricity to Baghdad for 14 hours, to Basra for
17, and for a national average of 15. This is an increase
from the previous day and is the result of thermal generation
units being brought back on line after a period of scheduled
maintenance.

-- Sabotage has continued. On September 20, 13 electrical
towers on the Bayji to Baghdad West line collapsed for still
undetermined reasons and the fallen equipment was found
vandalized. Rapid repair capability has been hindered by
credible death threats against power company workers. Two
weeks ago, three workers from the Ministry of Electricity
(MoE) were murdered for fixing downed power lines and others
have been threatened. Repairs are estimated to take six
weeks. In addition, the redundant Bayji to Baghdad East line
was interdicted today (Sept. 21) eliminating redundancy and
1,000 MW of power, which will affect approximately 100,000
homes in the Baghdad area.

-- Although the MoE continues to replace towers as they are
damaged, the country,s spare parts stocks continue to run
low. There are approximately only 10 towers remaining in
stock with materials to replace four more. IRMO and PCO are
working to help expedite replenishments for the MoE,s spare
tower stocks.

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OIL
---

-- Oil production in the South has been stable and protected
with exports averaging 1.6 million barrels per day over the
past two weeks. Production at the Basra refinery is close to
90 percent and exports continue without incident.

-- Oil production in the North and Central regions remain
vulnerable to attacks. Interdictions have reached
unprecedented levels and are keeping repair crews at work
trying to keep oil flowing throughout Iraq.

-- In the North, the Bayji refinery has been shut down since
September 16 due to lack of oil flow from the Kirkuk fields,
with two of three pipelines to the refinery down (the 26 inch
line came up on Sept. 21.) The two downed lines are the
result of leaks and corrosion, not attacks. Exports from
Kirkuk halted August 27 and are not expected to resume before
October 1, with the goal of resuming exports to Turkey
(previously peaked at about 150k bbl/dy) and increasing flow
to 500k bbl/day as soon as possible.

-- In the Central region, the Doura refinery in Baghdad is
operating at 50 percent due to a reduced flow of oil
resulting from pipeline interdictions. Credible death
threats have neutralized the rapid repair capability of these
lines, thereby leading to critically low stocks of fuel
throughout the country.

-- Nationwide, fifteen pipeline sites are currently under
repair. Although tanker trucks are being used to deliver oil
to refineries, these supplies barely keep pace with demand
for petroleum products.

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SECURITY POSTURE
--------------

-- Approximately 10 battalions of Coalition Forces (CF) and
Iraqi Army (IA),combined with Electrical Protection Security
Service (EPSS) and Oil Protection Forces (OPF) are currently
involved in patrolling or guarding Iraq,s 12,000 miles of
linear infrastructure (powerlines and pipelines) and critical
nodes.

-- In addition, four units of newly raised Security
Infrastructure Battalions (SIBs) will be fully trained by
October 15 and deployed to guard linear infrastructure mainly
in the Baghdad-Bayji-Kirkuk corridors. The Ministry of
Defense is also training additional battalions, with four
more expected to be on line by December 2005.

-- Additionally, regular IA and CF units are patrolling
critical infrastructure corridors, while Ministry of Oil and
MoE protection forces stand guard over critical nodal
facilities such as transmission hubs, refineries, and power
plants.

-- EPSS personnel currently guard the Dibis, Mulla, Abdulla
and Taza powerplants.

-- The Iraqi Army currently guards the 400 KV powerlines
located between Kirkuk and Bayji, with the exception of the
power line located at the Tigris River crossing which are
guarded by SIBs.

-- SIBs currently guard oil pipelines between Kirkuk and
Bayji, power lines between Bayji and Tikrit, and protect oil
pipelines in the Samarra region.
Satterfield