2 MAIN ISRAELI POWER GRIDS PROVIDING ELECTRICITY TO GAZA DOWN FOR DAYS
Gaza, 4 Shawwal 1436/ 20 July 2015 (MINA) – A technical error in Israel cut off two main power grids responsible for supplying Gaza with electricity over the weekend. The down lines provide 25 percent (30 megawatts) of the electricity Israel supplies to Gaza.
The Number Eight power grid that provides central Gaza and parts of Khan Younis with electricity shut down three days ago, and the al Qubba power grid for the Gaza District shut down on Sunday, Ma’an News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).
The Gaza Electricity Distribution Company said it is attempting to cooperate with the Palestinian Power Authority to repair the broken grids, but said the Israeli army is obstructing these efforts and allegedly preventing the Israeli Electricity Corporation from fixing the grids on the grounds of security concerns.
Technicians were also barred for some time from repairing the al Qubba grid when it shut down in May.
Gaza currently receives electricity from the Israel, Egypt, and a power station inside Gaza.
However, these supply lines fall far short of the Gazan population’s needs. While the three suppliers provide 230 MW of electricity, the UN estimates that only meets half of Gaza’s needs.
Israel and Egypt have maintained a severe blockade of the Gaza Strip for the last eight years that has crippled the coastal enclave’s economy by limiting imports, exports, and movement of people.
Although the power plant inside Gaza has a potential output of 120 MW it has been unable to produce that much due to Israeli restrictions on fuel imports. Instead, the Gaza plant generally produces around 60 MW, 50 percent of its potential.
Last summer the plant was targeted during the 50-day Israeli offensive on Gaza, completely knocking it out of commission. The Gaza power authority said at the time that the damages from the attack could take up to a year to fix completely.
Gaza suffers 12 hours of power outages each day. Many individual homes have their own generators, and households can purchase extremely expensive fuel that comes into Gaza for private consumption. (T/P010/R04)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
