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Egypt hatches plan to supply all of Gaza's electricity

Egypt is working on a plan with the Palestinians to supply all the besieged Gaza Strip's electricity needs and wean off its reliance on Israel for power, an Egyptian energy official said on Thursday.

Under the plan, Egypt, which already supplies a small part of Gaza's electricity, would increase the number of power lines linking it to Gaza and provide Palestinians with some 250 megawatts, said Izzat Ibrahim, a senior official of Sinai's National Electricity Power Co.

"This capacity is considered as an alternative power for that Israel used to supply," Ibrahim said.

He said Egypt's Electricity Ministry is preparing a study with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority on financing the project and providing equipment to Gaza. The project would take at least six months to implement, he said, though he could not say when it would start.

Gaza receives most of its power from Israel. Its dependence has been highlighted by restrictions imposed by Israel last month to put economic pressure on Hamas.

Ten of the 17 power lines supplying Gaza come from Israel, five from a local plant and two from Egypt. Gaza's consumption increases by about 10 percent a year, and it needs about 240 megawatts.

The chief of Abbas' Palestinian Energy Authority said on Tuesday that the Palestinian Authority hoped to connect more areas of the Gaza Strip to the Egyptian grid.

The official, Omar Qattaneh, said the authority has secured financing from the Islamic Development Bank in Saudi Arabia for the US$32 million project. He said bids would be published in the coming days and the project could be completed in 12 to 18 months.

The proposal would bolster Abbas' claim to represent Gaza. Abbas now rules from the West Bank and wields little control over the Hamas-held Gaza.

Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu also praised the plan, despite the lingering tensions with Abbas' government.

"We welcome any project that links us to our Arab brothers and ends our relations with the occupation," he said, referring to Israel.
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