BICOM

The only power plant in the Gaza Strip resumed operations yesterday after Egypt delivered one million litres (220,000 gallons) of diesel to Gaza.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) tried to pressure the electricity company in Gaza not to use the Egyptian fuel when it arrived. It wants Hamas to pay its outstanding electricity bill from taxes it raises from Gaza residents.

Commenting on the electricity crisis in Gaza, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman told the Herzliya Policy Conference:  “The electricity crisis is an internal Palestinian crisis which we need not forcibly enter – Mahmoud Abbas did not do this step as a one-time measure… this is a duel strategy – to attack Hamas and also to drag Hamas into a conflict with Israel.”

A spokesman for the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company, Mohammed Thabet, said two of the four generators were now operating and the other two generators could be operational before the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The plant was shut down in April after the PA  dramatically increased the cost of fuel as part of its ongoing power struggle with Hamas.

The power plant is now generating 45 megawatts, around 30 per cent of the 148 megawatts of electricity available in the Strip. Israel is providing 80 megawatts and Egypt another 23 megawatts.  Until now, Israel supplied 123 megawatts but cut the supply at the request of PA Chairman Abbas. The Gaza Strip will now have approximately six hours of electricity for every 12 hours without.