UK engineers fly to Iraq

UK engineers fly to Iraq

Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station is a familiar site to motorists on the M1

Two engineers from an East Midlands power station are flying out to Iraq to help rebuild power stations in the war-ravaged country.

The two men will be advising the British Army on how to repair five power stations at Basra in the south of country which have been damaged in the recent conflict.

Powergen is sending out the engineering manager from its Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station by the M1 in Nottinghamshire and the head of electricity engineering from its research and development division.

A spokesman for the firm said: "They will be there for about a week working with the Royal Engineers trying to get the power back on."

British troops are working to restore order in Basra which was hit by a wave of looting after Saddam Hussein's government fell.

They are also making sure water and power supplies to the city return to normal.

Britain's National Grid has also been asked by the UK Government to send engineers to advise on repairs to Iraq's electricity network.

"We are sending a small number of personnel out there to assess the condition of the infrastructure," said a spokesman.

"This is purely in an advisory capacity - we are not seeking any business development opportunity."