Environmental expert Hedi Jamal writes about the environment in Erbil

 

Hedi shared an informative data on his facebook wall : About 950 kg of carbon dioxide and approximately 4.5 kg of suspended solids are emitted daily into the air and environment of Erbil from neighborhood generators. According to the statistics from the Council of Private Generators in Erbil, there are 1,138 private generators in the center of Erbil alone. This number does not include generators used by hotels, companies, and public institutions.

Let’s perform a simple calculation to determine the daily output of carbon dioxide and suspended solids from these generators.

1. Each generator has the capacity to produce 500 amps of electricity on average, although many produce more.
2. These generators run on diesel fuel.
3. Suppose they operate 16 hours a day.

According to standards, for each amp of electricity produced in one hour, each generator emits:
– 0.016 kg of CO2
– 0.00046 g of PM2.5

Thus, considering all 1,138 generators running for 16 hours, they emit:
– 964 kg of CO2
– 4.19 kg of PM2.5

Imagine the disaster if we also accounted for emissions from cars, trucks, and factories.

Kurdfile highlights the Kurdish government’s negligence towards the environment. Despite having the capacity to reduce the number of generators by retaining electricity for local use instead of selling it to other parts of Iraq, the government prioritizes profit over the well-being of its people. This disregard not only exacerbates environmental degradation but also endangers the health and safety of the population.