GAZA: LOW FUEL SUPPLIES LIMIT WATER AND POWER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000364 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/IPA FOR GOLDBERGER/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL; TREASURY FOR SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2018 TAGS: EAID ECON KPAL KWBG PGOV PHUM SUBJECT: GAZA: LOW FUEL SUPPLIES LIMIT WATER AND POWER AVAILABILITY REF: JERUSALEM 213 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Nahal Oz fuel transfer station was open for limited shipments on February 28. Gaza fuel importers claim that gasoline and diesel fuel imports currently meet just 20 percent of Gaza's needs. Most Gazan homes receive water from the mains for just six to ten hours each week. Local press reports supplies of chlorine depleted. HEALTH sector contacts report that Hamas replaced two high-level Ministry of HEALTH positions in Gaza on February 26. End summary. Nahal Oz Open For Just ONE Hour In Last Two Days -------------- --- ¶2. (SBU) Director of the Palestinian Petroleum Corporation Mujahid Salama told Econoff that Nahal Oz fuel transfer station was open for just ONE hour on February 28, allowing the transfer of 125,000 liters of industrial fuel for the Gaza Power Plant and 75,000 liters of diesel. The station was closed on February 27. Salama noted that, on average, imports during February have met roughly 20 percent of Gaza's fuel needs. He said that February's average Gaza fuel shipments were as follows: - Industrial fuel for Gaza Power Plant ) 2.2 million liters weekly - Diesel ) 880,000 liters weekly - Gasoline ) 75,000 liters weekly - Cooking gas ) 1,200 tons weekly Electricity Supply Restricted -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Project Manager of the Gaza Power Plant Rafiq Maliha told Econoff on February 27 that the plant continues to produce an average output of 55 MW, normally 45 MW during the day and 65 MW during night-time peak hours. He noted that prior to June 28, 2006, the plant was producing an average of 100 MW. Maliha and NGO contacts in Gaza said that most Gazans have been experiencing eight to ten hours each day without electricity. (Note: Gaza's current 192 MW supply includes: 55 MW (average) from the Gaza Power Plant; 120 MW from ten Israeli feeder lines; and 17 MW from Egypt. According to Maliha, electricity supply meets an estimated 65 percent of current demand. End note.) ¶4. (SBU) He explained that the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCo),which loads the plant's electricity output and distributes it to Gaza consumers, is not sufficiently equipped to manage the load sharing power rotation, resulting in overloads and blackouts. Water from the Mains - Six to Ten Hours Each Week -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Chief Engineer of the Coastal Municipalities Water Authority Monther Shoblak told Econoff on February 25 that most Gazans are receiving water to their homes from the municipalities for only six to ten hours every week. Shoblak said that 90 percent of the 140 water pumping stations in Gaza are without fuel for their generators and operate only when electricity is available from the grid. He said that only 30 of the municipalities, 37 sewage pumps have enough fuel to operate when electricity is down. Gaza Fuel Importers In Difficult Position -------------- ¶6. (C) Chairman of the Gaza Gas Station Owners Association Mahmoud Shawwa told Econoff on February 22 that his membership has been put in a difficult position in Gaza ) "we must decide who receives fuel supplies and who does not ) but we cannot decide who lives and who dies. We are businessmen, not mighty czars." ¶7. (C) Shawwa said that the association has made weekly diesel and gasoline shipments to UNRWA, PA hospitals, and the Coastal Municipalities Water Authority a top priority. He said that Gaza gas stations are open on Mondays and Thursday only, due to fuel shortages. Hospitals Running on Generators; Chlorine Supplies Depleted; Hamas Re-Staffs HEALTH Sector Leadership JERUSALEM 00000364 002.2 OF 002 -------------- ¶8. (SBU) WHO representatives in Gaza said that hospitals are able to operate with electricity around the clock, though most hospital generators maintain only minimal fuel reserves and have little cushion. ¶9. (SBU) Local press reports that supplies of chlorine in Gaza are depleted, putting at risk the quality of water throughout the Strip. ¶10. (C) Gaza HEALTH sector contacts also noted to Econoff on February 27 that several top PA Ministry of HEALTH officials in Gaza have been replaced in recent days with Hamas appointees. Contacts said that on February 26 Hamas installed its own people as the Director General of Hospitals and the Director General of Human Resources with Hamas people. WALLES