The sole Gaza power plant, which has been shut off due to fuel shortage, received limited fuel shipments from Israel on Tuesday, Palestinian officials said.
However, the plant, which produces 25 percent of Gaza Strip electricity, did not resume production, waiting for enough fuel to accumulate.
Mahmoud al-Khozendar with the petrol stations union said industrial diesel was being trucked in from Nahal Oz crossing point in eastern Gaza city to the only power plant located in central Gaza Strip.
Palestinian children participate in a candle-light demonstration after Gaza plunged into darkness on Nov. 10, 2008. The only power station in Gaza Strip was forced to shut down on Monday due to the Israeli blockade of fuel deliveries, leaving 800,000 people into blackout. (Xinhua Photo) "The Israeli side told us that 2.5 million liters of industrialdiesel would be delivered today and tomorrow," al-Khozendar said, noting that "this amount is enough for operating the station for one week."
Al-Khozendar, however, said Israel pumps the fuel at Nahal Oz "slower than the usual, less than quarter of the average," adding that the power plant will remain off until it is assured that enough amount of fuel would be delivered.
"The station needs four hours of warming up before starting to generate electricity and this can not be done without making sure that there is enough diesel in the storage tankers," he said.
On Monday night, large parts of Gaza city plunged into darkness after Gaza power plant, the main electricity supplier for the center and south of the coastal strip, was forced to shut down due to the Israeli blockade of fuel deliveries.
A worker stands behind wires in Gaza power plant, Gaza Strip, on Nov. 10, 2008. Gaza power plant, the main electricity supplier for the center and the south of the strip, was forced to shut down on Monday due to the Israeli blockade of fuel deliveries, leaving 800,000 people into blackout. (Xinhua Photo)Israel closed all crossing points into Gaza following flare-up of violence between Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and Israel.
Meanwhile, Hatem Owaida, an aide to Hamas' minister of economy, said Israel allowed the European-funded industrial diesel into Gaza but extended the closure of the crossing points for cargo and other kinds of fuel, especially cooking gas.
Hamas and Israel have largely observed a ceasefire, though the closure of the crossings violates the Egyptian-brokered deal.
Source: Xinhua
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