Representatives from the State Department talk with workers at an electric substation in Al Ma’amil, the primary source of electricity for the residents of Narhwan, Jan. 29. The representatives and Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery toured the facility to assess it.
FOB Hammer, Iraq
Representatives from the State Department toured an electric substation in Al Ma’amil, the primary source of electricity for residents of Narhwan, Jan. 29.
The representatives examined the three main generators, of which two do not currently function, and gave recommendations to 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery representatives and workers at the substation.
“Power is a big issue in Narhwan,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Dehart, from Owensboro, Ky., with 489th Civil Affairs Battalion, a reserve unit from Nashville, Tenn., currently attached to 1-10th FA. “It is essential to get the substation up and running efficiently because we are working to get more heavy oil to the brick factory. The factory will require much more power to operate after that.”
Power generation is a key part in helping the local brick factory (the largest employer in Narhwan) provide 10,000 future jobs to the people in the area. Without steady power, workers cannot bake bricks properly due to fluctuations in the temperature of the kilns.
“We currently only have one of the three transformers at the substation working and if we do not work to maintain it, it will be dead within a year,” Dehart said. “We have talked with the Ministry of Electricity to send a qualified technician to maintain the generator. They have already agreed to send supplies such as lines and oil. We are also trying to create a project that will teach locals how to do electrical repairs so they can do the maintenance for the long term. In the long run, it will help the people there solve many of their own problems.”
Even if the transformers are working properly, Dehart said, Narhwan is still dependant on the Ministry of Electricity for all of its power.
“Basically, Narhwan does not produce its own power,” Dehart said. “It all comes from Baghdad and the citizens in the area only have it for a limited amount of time per day.”
Leaders from 1-10th FA plan on dialogue and coordination with the Ministry of Electricity to facilitate the acquisition of updated equipment and to conduct necessary repairs.
The 1-10th FA is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007
Representatives from the State Department toured an electric substation in Al Ma’amil, the primary source of electricity for residents of Narhwan, Jan. 29.
The representatives examined the three main generators, of which two do not currently function, and gave recommendations to 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery representatives and workers at the substation.
“Power is a big issue in Narhwan,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Dehart, from Owensboro, Ky., with 489th Civil Affairs Battalion, a reserve unit from Nashville, Tenn., currently attached to 1-10th FA. “It is essential to get the substation up and running efficiently because we are working to get more heavy oil to the brick factory. The factory will require much more power to operate after that.”
Power generation is a key part in helping the local brick factory (the largest employer in Narhwan) provide 10,000 future jobs to the people in the area. Without steady power, workers cannot bake bricks properly due to fluctuations in the temperature of the kilns.
“We currently only have one of the three transformers at the substation working and if we do not work to maintain it, it will be dead within a year,” Dehart said. “We have talked with the Ministry of Electricity to send a qualified technician to maintain the generator. They have already agreed to send supplies such as lines and oil. We are also trying to create a project that will teach locals how to do electrical repairs so they can do the maintenance for the long term. In the long run, it will help the people there solve many of their own problems.”
Even if the transformers are working properly, Dehart said, Narhwan is still dependant on the Ministry of Electricity for all of its power.
“Basically, Narhwan does not produce its own power,” Dehart said. “It all comes from Baghdad and the citizens in the area only have it for a limited amount of time per day.”
Leaders from 1-10th FA plan on dialogue and coordination with the Ministry of Electricity to facilitate the acquisition of updated equipment and to conduct necessary repairs.
The 1-10th FA is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007
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