Iraq overhauls electricity ministry after protests

BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi has sacked a number of electricity ministry officials, his office said on Thursday, in the latest attempt to quell public anger at chronic power cuts.

Four directors have been dismissed and a number of others moved “in order to reorganise the operation of the ministry in the service of the country”, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

Those sacked were in charge of investments, contracts, distribution and administration at the ministry.

The decision follows the dismissal last month of electricity minister Qassem al Fahdawi “because of the deterioration in the electricity sector”, the premier’s office said at the time.

Iraq has been hit by more than a month of protests which erupted in Basra and quickly spread to other southern cities, as well as reaching the capital Baghdad.

Demonstrators are angry at the dire state of public services, with regular power cuts offering little respite from sweltering summer temperatures.

With the national grid providing just a few hours of electricity per day, many Iraqis are forced to pay to use generators through the private sector.

Protesters have also rallied against water shortages, unemployment and graft in a country where citizens argue they fail to benefit from the country’s oil wealth.

Officially $40 billion (34 billion euros) has been allocated to the power sector over the past 15 years, but a substantial slice has been siphoned off by corrupt politicians and businessmen who have fronted fake contracts. and liquidity risk for companies, the ministry said, adding, “The Turkish banking system is capable of managing financial fluctuations effectively thanks to its strong capital structure and balance.”

The government expects to secure economic growth of 3 to 4 per cent in 2019, and reduce the inflation rate to single digits, it said.

The US imposed sanctions on Nato ally Turkey over Brunson’s detention. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced tit-for-tat measures.

Brunson, detained in October 2016 and arrested in December that year on charges of espionage and terrorism in Turkey, currently remains under house arrest in Izmir province.

A Turkish delegation met officials in Washington this week to help end the rift, but there was no concrete outcome. — dpa