Deputy head of the Gaza Energy Authority Fathi Sheikh Khalil warned on Monday that the electricity crisis in Gaza would sharply exacerbate with the arrival of summer the month of Ramadan and the exams season and affirmed that the Palestinian Authority (PA) government procrastinates in providing any solution for the crisis.
Sheikh Khalil said in an online interview organized by the Government Information Office in Gaza that the PA government still procrastinates in responding to a Qatari mediation to solve the electricity crisis which emerged recently after the depletion of the fuel provided by the Qatari and Turkish grants.
Sheikh Khalil pointed out that the PA government insists on its decision to re-impose full taxes on the price of the fuel sold to the Gaza power plant.
He continued “The cost of running two generators at the power station increased to 50 million shekels instead of 20 million shekels” adding that the Gaza Energy Authority has shut down the power station.
He stated that the electricity distribution schedule will be constrained by the instability of sources with 6 hours on and 12 off in case the Egyptian and Israeli sources were available.
The Palestinian official affirmed that the funds that were collected during the period when the fuel prices were covered by the Qatari and Turkish grants were used to repay debts owned by the Electricity Corporation to the Gaza Banks noting that the remaining funds are allocated for buying fuel once the PA government agrees to abolish the taxes imposed on it.
Sheikh Khalil said “We send periodic financial reports to the PA government’s premier Rami Hamdallah and they can be checked and reviewed by any neutral body to ensure transparency.”
Sheikh Khalil appealed to the Palestinian factions to intervene to pressure the PA government to abolish the taxes imposed on fuel supplies to Gaza stressing that shutting down the power plant will have a negative impact on the vital services provided in all provinces in the Gaza Strip.
He emphasized that the PA Energy Authority’s procrastination in implementing major projects that would contribute to solving the electricity crisis such as the Israeli feeding line 161 and increasing the capacity of the Egyptian network is a main reason for the confusion caused in the electricity distribution schedule.
