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Infrastructure

IraqITIC.com - Infrastructure:

Iraq's Current Infrastructure (download)

Power Generation:

Iraq has an installed electrical power generation capacity of 9700 MW of electricity, with a peak demand of 6860 MW. There is a 100,000 km network of transmission and distribution lines providing access to 80% of the population. Half of Iraq's power generation is steam based with the other half almost equally divided between hydropower and gas based generation. Iraq is presently generating 5000 MW, with demand projected for the year 2006 at 10,000 MW. With these projections in view there is a three year $13.5 b power development and rehabilitation program currently underway.

For details please visit the Ministry of Electricity: http://www.iraqelectric.org

Telecommunications:

There are presently some 7.5 million telephone subscribers in Iraq, of whom approximately 5.5 million are cell phone users. The satellite gateway for international calling is now fully operational; and licenses for cellular operation have been awarded to Asia-Cell, Orascom and Atheer, operating in the north, central and southern regions respectively.

The Government has announced its plans to rebuild and expand the national switching and local access networks, in order to achieve a fixed-line density of 12% by 2007. The Ministry of communications is working on the wireless Local Loop to replace fixed line communication, which will add another 1.5 million new lines upon completion.

Cellular phone density stood at 12.5% at the end of 2005. Furthermore, the Ministry of Communication has plans to issue up to four 15-year national mobile telephone licenses in the current year.

The Ministry of Communication is the licensing and regulatory body for commercial telecommunication services - CPA Order 11. However under CPA Order 65 the Communications and Media Commission, separate from the Ministry, has been established to act as the sector regulator.

For details please visit the Iraq National Communication and Media Commission: http://www.ncmc-iraq.org and the Iraqi Ministry of communications: http://www.iraqimoc.net

Transport & Communication:

Transport is amongst the most active sectors of the Iraqi economy. Passenger and goods movement takes place via rail, road, air, river and the sea. Iraq's main transportation axis runs northwest to southeast from Mosul via Kirkuk to Baghdad, and onwards south to Basra and the Arabian Gulf.

Road Network:

Iraq has an extensive network of 24,000 miles of paved roads and highways, with the main transport artery being a six-lane expressway connecting the Jordanian border to Baghdad, and going further south to Basra. In addition a number of four lane highways link Baghdad to various cities throughout the country. There is a network of military roads along the borders and a 7,500 miles long network of unpaved roads. Over a thousand bridges provide crossings over the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their tributaries.

Air Transport:

» International Airports: Baghdad International Airport, Basra, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah

» Domestic airports: Mosul, Kirkuk, Najaf

» International Airlines operating in Iraq: Ishtar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Iraqi Airways, The Flying Carpet, Jupiter airlines, Orbit Aviation, Tigris Airways, Asian Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Serve.

» Domestic Airlines: Ishtar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Iraqi Airways, The Flying Carpet, Jupiter airlines, Orbit Aviation, Tigris Airways and Air Serve.

» International Destinations: Dubai (UAE), Amman (Jordan), Beirut (Lebanon), Istanbul (Turkey), Cairo (Egypt), Tehran (Iran), London, Athens (Greece), Copenhagen (Denmark), Stockholm (Sweden), Crete, Damascus (Syria), Frankfurt (Germany).

Sea Ports:

Umm Qasr is the principle sea port of the country, catering to major container and break-bulk vessels. It is a deep-water port with 21 berths and can accommodate up to twelve five meter draft ships. It has over 175,000 square feet of covered warehouses and 800,000 square feet of storage location. The grain facility is capable of mechanically unloading up to 60,000 tons of grain at a time. Both road and rail lines connect the storage facilities with external transportation links.

Iraq's other ports are Basra, Khwar AZ Zubayr and Abu Floos. In addition the port of Aqaba (Jordan) and ports in Kuwait, Syria and Turkey also handle goods in transit to Iraq.

For more details please visit the Ministry of Transportation at: http://www.transportiraq.org

Railways:

Iraq's railways network is spread over 1,500 miles and has five major lines:

»Baghdad to Basra and Umm Qasr
»Baghdad to Mosul and Syria
»Baghdad to Al Ramadi and Al Qaim
»Al Qaim to Akashat
»Kirkuk to Baiji and Haditha

For details please visit the State Company for Iraqi Railways: http://www.iraqrailways.com

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