Egypt raises price of cooking gas exported to Gaza

The besieged Gaza Strip has suffered a greater shortage in cooking gas over the past three weeks as a result of Egypt’s price increases, Arab48 reported yesterday.

Daily consumption of cooking gas in Gaza is about 250 tonnes in winter and between 200 and 220 tonnes in summer.

Director of Public Relations and Media Officer in Gaza, Bayan Baker, said the shortage was a response to the Egyptian attempt to raise the price of cooking gas.

The Palestinian government in Gaza stopped importing gas in protest against the attempts to raise its price; however, it reached a compromise with the Egyptian authorities to make a very symbolic rise, according to Baker, who did not say how much prices would increase by.

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A cooking gas contain in Gaza is 12 kilogrammes and is sold to consumers at 57 shekels ($16.5).

The increase in consumption in Israel, due to the drop in temperatures, is also leading to a shortage of gas in Gaza.

Israel prevents Palestinians from using gas from the Gaza Marine fields off the enclave’s coast which was discovered more than two decades ago by British Gas.