Energy in the State of Palestine
Ahmed Abu Al-Amreen of the Hamas-run Energy Authority refused it on the grounds that Kerem Shalom is operated by Israel.
Egypt could not ship diesel fuel to Gaza through the Rafah crossing, which is limited to the movement of individuals.
[9] In early March, the head of Gaza's Energy Authority again insisted that Egypt transfer fuel through Rafah, although this crossing was not equipped to handle the 500,000 litres needed each day.
[13] In April 2012, the PA and Hamas reached a deal, with the involvement of the Red Cross, for the transfer of fuel via Kerem Shalom, with the fuel being accepted by the PA, which was then transferred to Hamas after Hamas made payment to the PA.[14] In 1999, Palestine Electric Company (PEC) was formed in the Palestinian territories as a subsidiary of Palestine Power Company LLC[15] to establish electricity generating plants in territories under PA control.
In 2010, PADICO Holdings, PEC and other Palestinian companies formed the Palestine Power Generation Company (PPGC)[16] to build power plants in areas under PA control, and to reduce Palestinian dependence on imported energy.
During past military offensives, Israeli targets included energy infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
With a halt to such smuggling and with restricted amounts of fuel supplied via Israel the power plant began operating at partial capacity.
Originally reported as destroyed and facing a year of repairs, the plant returned to operation in six weeks.
[25][26] Transfers of fuel for the power plant were stopped by Israel during the Gaza War in May 2021 and resumed by the end of June.
[27] The PA approved PPGC's proposal for the construction of the Jenin power plant in the north of the West Bank.
[28] As of 2017, Gaza's normal energy needs were estimated to be approximately 400-600 megawatts (MW) for full 24-hour supply to all residents.
Gaza's electricity is normally supplied by its sole diesel power plant, which has a nominal rating of 60-140 MW (figures vary due to degree of operation and damage to the plant) and which is reliant on crude diesel fuel,[30][31] which is imported via Israel.
Residents of the Gaza Strip receive electricity for a few hours a day on a rolling blackout basis.
[32] In May 2021, during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, errant rockets fired by Hamas from the Gaza Strip at Israel damaged five of the ten power lines that supply electricity from Israel to the Gaza Strip, severely reducing the electricity supply.
[40] At the time, IEC stated that it could not repair the lines,[40] and after the fighting ceased the IEC workers union released a statement refusing to repair the facilities until Israeli prisoners of Hamas (including Avera Mengistu and the bodies of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul) were returned.
IEC distributes electricity in West Bank Area C.[43] A power substation located outside Jenin has been operating since July 2017 by PEC capable of providing up to 135 MW, which is purchased by the IEC to supply the northern West Bank.
Order 389 of 1970 vested the governance of the natural resources sector in an authority to be appointed by the military commander.
[46] IEC said that it was losing ILS 85 million per month on power being supplied to Nablus and Jenin that was not being paid for, causing the majority of its quarterly loss.
[43] In February 2015, the PA and the Palestinian electricity distributors owed IEC a total of ILS 1.9 billion (about US$500 million).
On 23 February, after numerous notices, IEC cut power to several West Bank cities for about 45 minutes.
[60] IEC reduced supplies to Gaza in May and June 2017, saying the dispute between Hamas and the PA was an internal Palestinian matter.
[64] In June 2019, the debts stood at ILS 2.0 billion (about US$540 million), and the PA stopped all payments to IEC.
On 8 September 2019, the debt was ILS 1.7 billion (about US$460 million) and IEC gave notice of its intention to cut power.
[66] Two months earlier the Supreme Court of Israel ruled that IEC must give 35 days notice before it can cut off electricity.
