La centrale elettrica di Gaza chiuse completamente, forse domani. Non c’è carburante per farla andare avanti. Perché, di chi è la responsabilità, se del governo palestinese di Ramallah o dell’Unione Europea, che sino all’autunno pagava – per così dire – le bollette del carburante che veniva mandato a Gaza attraverso i valichi commerciali con Israele?
Questo è il racconto dell’agenzia di stampa indipendente palestinese. Un estratto da Maannews:
The crisis is at a peak, the power authority said, two and a half months after the EU stopped heading up the effort to ensure Gaza had enough fuel. In early November, officials said, the EU and the PA negotiated funding priorities for 2010, and decided to channel EU money into civil servant salaries and social services benefits for Palestinians. In recent days civil servants threatening to strike were granted a 4% pay raise.
The power authority statement explained that under the EU 13 million dollars went to cover the costs of 9,500 cubic meters of fuel every month. That quantity was enough to run the power plant at 60 megawatts, just under its capacity of 80 megawatts, throughout the year. The power plant at that time generated enough electricity to supply one third of the power in Gaza, the statement said.
After the EU stopped funding fuel for the Gaza Strip, the statement continued, the PA Ministry of Finance covered the costs for only 6,500 cubic meters of fuel – at least for December – making it necessary to shut down one generator. The statement said the power authority expected a further reduction in fuel down to 5,500 cubic meters in January, generating less than 30 megawatts.
On Tuesday, Minister of Labour with the Palestinian Authority’s caretaker government in Ramallah Ghassan Khatib said the PA had been able to cover 80-90% of fuel needs. An article in Egypt’s Al-Ayam said the number was more like 70%. According to the power authority, they are only receiving 57-68% of the necessary fuel.