FUEL SHIPMENTS TO GAZA CUT; SUFA CROSSING CLOSED

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 002239 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELRADE; PRM FOR PDAS GREENE AND PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON KPAL KWBG PGOV PHUM SUBJECT: FUEL SHIPMENTS TO GAZA CUT; SUFA CROSSING CLOSED ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Gaza-based Director of the Palestinian General Petroleum Corporation Mujahad Salama confirmed cuts in fuel deliveries to Gaza on October 29. The Gaza Power Plant received all 300,000 liters of fuel oil it had requested for the day, but there were no gasoline imports, according to Salama. Sufa crossing was closed October 29, leaving only Kerem Shalom crossing open to Gaza shipments and cutting the capacity for imports by roughly 50 percent until Kerem Shalom is expanded. End summary. Diesel Fuel Cut; No Gasoline -------------- ¶2. (SBU) According to Director of the Palestinian General Petroleum Corporation (the PA's fuel agency in Gaza) Mojahed Salama, October 29 fuel imports into Gaza through the Nahal Oz fuel transfer station were as follows: Industrial fuel oil - 300,000 liters (average quantity); Diesel fuel - 190,000 (average quantity is 300,000 liters); Gasoline - none (average quantity is 120,000 liters); Cooking gas - 280 tons (average quantity). Sufa Crossing Closed; Import Capacity Reduced By Half -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Gaza-based OCHA representative Hamada al-Bayari told econoff the Sufa crossing was closed on October 29. Al-Bayari said that import capacity, aside from the grain imports shipped at Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing's conveyer belt, will decline from roughly 120 truckloads to 60 truckloads each day through Kerem Shalom, as a result of Sufa's closure. Kerem Shalom Crossing To Expand -------------- ¶4. (SBU) WFP Logistics Coordinator Bekim Mahmati told econoff on October 29 that the PA is currently overseeing an expansion project of the cemented surface at Kerem Shalom, and is expected to bring the crossing's daily shipping capacity from 60 truckloads to 100 truckloads by the end of November. WALLES