The Gaza Energy Authority has announced in a press statement that the Gaza Strip on Monday received 300 liters of Egyptian fuel supplies through underground tunnels.
The declaration coincides with a visit by Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya to Egypt, during which he intends to discuss Gaza's fuel crisis.
The energy authority said one out of four electricity generators have immediately been activated, reemphasizing a commitment to run the strip’s power station based on the quantity of fuel received.
The statement explained that the supplies received on Monday are not related to Egyptian pledges to provide Gaza with enough fuel to run its electricity plant.
Last week, the energy authority said production at Gaza’s sole electricity station came to a halt as Egyptian authorities cracked down on fuel smuggling through underground tunnels on its borders with the Palestinian enclave. The conundrum rendered 90 percent of local oil stations idle.
Israel supplies Gaza with about 120 megawatts of electricity, while the strip's only power plant produces 60 megawatts. But since Gaza needs at least 270 megawatts of electricity, the strip suffers a daily blackout that lasts for eight hours.
