Supply of Qatari fuel to Gaza resumes, giving boost to mains electricity

The Deputy Head of the Gaza Energy Authority has confirmed that the supply of fuel donated by Qatar through Egypt has resumed after a one-month break. Engineer Fathy El-Shiekh Khalil, said that this should improve the distribution of mains electricity in the beleaguered territory.

Speaking at an “Interview with an Official” session organised by the government media office, Khalil said that the Electricity Project with Egypt still needs a political decision as well as routine procedures which, however, could take time to put in place.

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He noted that a plan is being developed to modernise Gaza’s electricity grid so that it can cope with demand. The Egyptian project is expected to solve the problem. A total of 100,000 prepaid electricity meters will be installed over the coming months in an effort to restrict overall consumption, although the charges to consumers will be the same as in regular meters.

With regard to the lengthy power cuts in the north of the Gaza Strip, Mr. Khalil said that they are due to the recent very low temperatures which led to three power lines between Israel and Gaza being damaged. Overload and illegal access to the electricity supply has aggravated the problem, he said.

He pointed out that the amount of energy used in the Gaza Strip depends on three generators with a maximum output of 90 megawatts, as well as 27 megawatts from Egypt and 120 megawatts from Israel.