Cii Radio| Ayesha Ismail| 23 September 2016| 21 Zhul hijjah 1437
Gaza — The energy authority in the Gaza Strip has announced that the besieged coastal enclave’s sole power plant will stop running until next Tuesday due to fuel shortages, as Israel’s Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing remained closed to fuel imports for the second consecutive day.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the authority said that since the crossing was closed after it was breached by burglars early Wednesday morning, the power station would be out of service due to lack of fuel deliveries.
The flow of fuel supplies into the blockaded Palestinian territory was further impeded due to repair work on pipes at Kerem Shalom, according to a statement released Thursday by the borders and crossing committee.
According to the statement however, all other goods besides fuel supplies were still being allowed through the crossing.
Even at full capacity, Egyptian and Israeli electricity grids, together with Gaza’s sole power plant, fail to cover the Gaza Strip’s energy needs and only provide energy to Gaza’s inhabitants for eight hours each day.
The power plant has not run at full capacity in years, with Israel’s crippling blockade severely limiting fuel imports into the coastal enclave.
The enclave has experienced severe electricity shortages over the years, exacerbating already dire living conditions in the small Palestinian territory.
Source – Maan News Agency
