Israel agrees to expand Gaza power plant, supply natural gas: official

A senior Qatari official said on Thursday that Israel had agreed in principle to expand the sole power station in the Gaza Strip and supply it with natural gas.

Mohamed al-Ammadi, chairman of the Qatari committee to construct Gaza, told a news briefing at Erez Crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Israel that Qatar had sent to Israel a request to improve the main power station in Gaza.

"We sent a request to the Israeli side to supply the Gaza Strip with natural gas lines to operate the only power station in Gaza to generate 340 megawatts," said al-Ammadi.

He said that "the Israeli side agreed in principle to the request ... they (the Israelis) are studying the whole project."

Al-Ammadi unveiled that the whole project is largely discussed with the Palestinian National Authority, Israel and the international Quartet which comprises the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.

"The Quartet nominates a special advisor to follow up the implementation of the plan and study all the technical details of the project," he said. "In case Israel gives its final answer, the contracts will be signed."

Meanwhile, he also said that he discussed with the Israeli private sector on establishing a solar power station to provide Gaza with 100 megawatts electricity.

"I hope that these projects will succeed and will see the light soon to resolve the problem of the power shortage in Gaza," said al-Ammadi.

On Thursday, the Gaza Energy Corporation said that a severe shortage of fuels may soon lead to stopping the sole power station from generating electricity and supplying Gaza with power.

The corporation said the reason for the fuel shortage is that Israel is not shipping enough amount of fuel to operate the power station.

According to the corporation, Gaza needs 320 megawatts everyday, but the power station generates only 65 megawatts, while Egypt supplies Gaza with 22 megawatts and Israel with 120 megawatts. Endit