COMPANY bosses are celebrating after securing a £38million deal to build power stations in war-torn Iraq.

Clacton-based Delta Design Systems has won its biggest ever contract to build two power stations in the capital Baghdad.

The deal will safeguard jobs at the company and act as a springboard to other contracts Each of the stations will be large enough to power Clacton.

They will be based in the capital’s suburbs, which suffer frequent power cuts following the war.

Sales manager Rod Logan said the city’s electricity system had taken a hammering during the conflict.

The new power stations are part of the ongoing programme to rebuild the country.

He said: “It’s not the safest place in the world – there will be issues.

“One of the most important things will be security and making sure we have a plan in place to get people out if something goes seriously wrong.”

The deal will more than double the family-run company’s annual turnover.

Mr Logan continued: “It’s a significant contract, and the first of many.

“We’ve already secured a smaller one since then, and have assurances there is a third in the offing.”

The contract is expected to create a dozen new senior jobs at the company, which already employs 40 people at its Tendring Heath HQ.

Until now, most of the company’s work has been for UK customers.

Company bosses hope it will act as a catalyst to winning business across the globe.

Mr Logan said: “It’s a prestigious job for any company, but for us, it’s very important.

“It’s a step up from being a small to medium company, to being a medium to large company.

“Now we can show we can do this type of contract and have the partners to work with, we can look to other countries where power supplies are very weak.”

Mr Logan urged banks to do more to help businesses such as Delta Design Systems.

He said: “We’ve had to do this the hard way. Most banks won’t touch these contracts.”