A new power station in Samawah, Iraq, is now providing much-needed electricity to the city's 250,000 inhabitants. Samawah's street restaurants and cafés can now be illuminated at night for the first time in years. Construction of the $140 million 60 MW diesel power plant was wholly funded by the Japanese Government's emergency grant aid programme. Construction began in February 2006 with Crown Agents supporting JICS (Japan International Cooperation System) on the security and logistics elements of the project.
The plant was officially opened on Monday 22 December 2008 at a ceremony in Samawah to hand over its operation to Iraq's electricity ministry. Iraq's electricity minister, Mr Karim Wahid, and Ms Seiko Hashimoto, Japan's vice foreign affairs minister as well as international media attended the ceremony. Both ministers gave short speeches expressing the hope that continued efforts from both countries can strengthen the long-term strategic partnership between Japan and Iraq through the implementation of projects, training of personnel, and through trade. Outside the power station a sign in English and Arabic illustrates this spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. It reads, "The people of Muthanna Province present thanks and gratitude to the friendly Japanese people and
value the efforts of the Ministry of Electricity."
The grant for the power station's construction is one of 20 grants constituting part of Japan's $5 billion aid package to Iraq, pledged in 2003. As procurement agent JICS's partner on the programme, Crown Agents works to implement $900 million of emergency grant aid projects. Around $356 million of this went to the electricity sector with the health, security, communications and water and sanitation sectors also targeted by the programme. In total the JICS/Crown Agents team has overseen more than 500 convoys entering Iraq for this project to make a real difference in this challenging and dangerous environment.