Ministry to execute ‘giant projects’ in 2005

 

By Mahmound al-Yasseri

 

Azzaman, 2005-01-05

 

Despite mounting insecurity, the country will see the implementation of projects that will substantially improve its ailing infrastructure, according to minister of public works.

 

The minister, Nasreen Berwari, said her ministry’s 2005 allocations are estimated at more $250 million besides the sums international donors have pledged to Iraqi reconstruction.

 

“Our ministry is ready to carry out giant projects in the field municipalities, water purification and sewage systems,” she said.

 

She said 2005 will see “the execution of new service projects” across the country.

 

Iraqi reconstruction has been delayed for security reasons. Foreign contractors are no longer willing to work in the country following the kidnapping and killing of personnel.

 

Iraqi ministries now rely on local contractors to carry out their projects. However, the locals lack the necessary experience to overhaul the country’s vital power and oil sectors.

 

Berwari said despite power shortages which on average continue for at least 12 hours a day her ministry has succeeded in providing electricity for major industries and projects.

 

“Despite outages we have managed to furnish our projects with an uninterrupted power supply through the use of separate generators,” she said.

 

She said some donor countries were not “forthcoming” regarding the sums they had promised for Iraqi reconstruction.

 

Berwari declined to name the countries which are reluctant to release the money, but said Iraqi ministries would try “to do their best” relying on their share from oil export revenues.