Amman - Engineers working for the Iraqi Electricity Ministry will start receiving their training from Jordan's National Electricity Co (NEC), the company announced Sunday.

Under the agreement, the NEC agrees with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to train the Iraqi engineers, NEC Director General Ahmad Hiyasat said.

"The agreement, which goes into effect early in 2009, provides for training Iraqi cadres to set up a system for the maintenance of power stations, transport lines and transformation stations," Hiyasat said.

"The accord is part of a series of training programmes which are being carried out by the NEC for the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity with the aim of meeting Iraq's requirements in the technical, financial and administrative spheres with a view to raising the standard of the country's energy sector," which has been badly hit hy the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, he added.

The NEC has also signed a similar agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) to train Iraqi technicians. (dpa)