Energy in the State of Palestine

Energy in the State of Palestine refers to energy and electricity consumption and production in the State of Palestine. The multi-source amount of electricity available in Palestine was 5,370 GW/hour in 2012 (3,700 in the West Bank and 1,670 in Gaza), while the annual per capita consumption of electricity (after deducting transmission loss) is 950 kilowatt/hour.[1] National sources only produce 445 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, which meets less than 10 percent of demand.[2] Palestinians do not produce oil or natural gas and are almost entirely dependent on the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) for electricity.[3][4] The only domestic source of energy is the Gaza Marine gas field, which has not yet been developed.[4] Palestinian energy demand had grown rapidly, increasing by 6.4% annually from 1999 to 2005.[4] Future consumption of electricity in Palestine is expected to reach 8,400 gigawatts by 2020 as the consumption rate grows 6% annually.[5]

Structurally, Palestine does not have sufficient distribution companies or systems - a problem which leads to constraints on electricity efficiency.[4] The West Bank and Gaza receive and consume energy in different ways.

West Bank

The supply of petroleum is centrally located at two different terminals in the West Bank. These terminals have no capacity to keep petroleum and are therefore used daily. Electricity wise, the West Bank relies almost entirely on the IEC, with around 5% of the territory's electricity provided by Jordan to the Jericho governorate.[6] As of 10 July 2017 there is a power substation operated by the Palestinian Electric Company located outside of Jenin capable of providing up to 135 MW purchased by the IEC to the northern West Bank area.[7]

After the 1967 occupation of the West Bank, agreements to distribute electricity to the West Bank from Jordan were terminated by the Israeli Military Governorate. Order 389 was issued in 1970 vesting the governance of the natural resources sector in an authority appointed by the military commander.[6] Authority over the supply of electricity to the illegal settlement of Kiryat Arba was issued to the Israeli Civil Administration, which authorised the IEC to supply and sell electricity to the Hebron municipality.[8] By 1980, a concession for all of the power supply in the West Bank was granted to the IEC.[8]

On 23 February 2015 the IEC intentionally cut off the West Bank power for about 45 minutes due to uncollected debts.[9] Two days later they again cut off power, stating it was a warning to the Palestinian Authority to begin paying down the debt, which at that time was NIS 1.9 billion.[10] The majority of the debt is held by the PA and Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO) which is a Palestinian electricity firm which buys its power from IEC and serves east Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jericho areas.[11] The IEC stated that they are losing NIS 85 million per month on power being supplied to Nablus and Jenin that they are not being paid for, causing the majority of their quarterly loss.[12] The Palestinians accused IEC of collective punishment,[13] however the IEC stated that they must operate independently and are treating this as they would any customer who does not pay their debts.[14]

On 31 March 2016 the IEC once again cut power to parts of the West Bank, in the Jericho area, over a NIS 1.7 billion in debts.[15] On 4 April the IEC cut power, in the Bethlehem area,[16] and the following day the IEC cut power in the Hebron area.[17] On 6 April, the IEC restored full power to the West Bank after they received a NIS 20 million payment, and an agreement to receive a full debt repayment schedule within seven days.[18]

Gaza strip

The supply of petroleum is centrally located at one terminal on the border of the Gaza strip. This terminal has no capacity to keep petroleum, which is therefore used daily. The Gaza Strip receives their electricity from the Israel Electric Corporation, a diesel power plant located in the Gaza strip and Egypt.[4]

Following the Hamas takeover of Gaza, development of the energy sector in Gaza largely stagnated, while facing increasing demand from population growth. During past military offensives, Israel has targeted vital energy infrastructure located in the occupied Gaza Strip.[6]

as of 2017, Gaza's normal energy needs are estimated to be approximately 400-600 megawatts for full 24-hour supply to all residents, which are normally supplied by a diesel power plant in Gaza with has a nominal rating of 60-140 MW (figures vary due to degree of operation and damage to the plant) which is reliant on fuel imports,[19][20] an additional 125 MW imported from Israel via 10 power lines, and 27 MW of power imported from Egypt.[21][22] Even in normal conditions, the current rated supply of Gaza is inadequate to meet growing needs.[23][24]

The Gaza electricity crisis is a result of the tensions between Hamas, who rules the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian Authority/Fatah, who rules the West Bank over custom tax revenue, funding of the Gaza Strip, and political authority. Residents receive electricity for a few hours a day on a rolling blackout schedule. As a result of the crises the Gaza power plant has reduced and then ceased operations due to a lack of fuel, and the amount of imported electricity from Israel and Egypt has been reduced.[25][21][26][23]

References

  1. ↑ "The Electricity Sector: Current Status and The Need for Reform" (PDF). MAS. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  2. ↑ "Palestinian Territories- Country Analysis Note." http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=pt. U.S. Energy Information Administration, Mar. 2014. Web.
  3. ↑ Henderson, Simon. "Natural Gas in alealestinian Authority: The Potential of the Gaza Marine Offshore Field." Journal of Health and Social Behavior 53.3 (2012): 296. Mar. 2014. Web.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "West Bank and Gaza Energy Sector Review" Sustainable Development Department, United Nations. May, 2007.
  5. ↑ Marei, Ibrahim (2016). "Developments in law and policy: The promotion of green energy in the electricity sector of Palestine". Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law. 35 (1): 47–67. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Power, Susan. "Annexing Power: Exploiting and Preventing the Development Of Oil and Gas in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" (PDF). Al Haq. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "In deal with Israel, PA takes 'historic' step toward energy independence". Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  8. 1 2 Kretzmer, David (April 2002). The Occupation of Justice: The Supreme Court of Israel and the Occupied Territories. SUNY press. p. 64. ISBN 0-7914-5337-5.
  9. ↑ "Israeli government says not behind electric corp. decision to cut West Bank power – Diplomacy and Defense".
  10. ↑ "Israel cuts power to West Bank cities for second time".
  11. ↑ "Power cut again in Palestinian cities despite 'collective punishment' accusations".
  12. ↑ "Israel Electric to resume West Bank power disruptions – Globes English".
  13. ↑ "Israeli electric company begins West Bank power cuts over debt". 23 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "Cutting Palestinians' electricity: It isn't just business, it's personal – Opinion".
  15. ↑ "IEC reduces Jericho electricity supply – Globes English".
  16. ↑ "Israel Electric Corporation to reduce power to Bethlehem".
  17. ↑ "Hebron becomes latest city to experience electricity cut".
  18. ↑ "Full power restored to West Bank after PA takes step to pay down NIS 1.74b. debt".
  19. ↑ Gaza's Only Power Plant Knocked Out, Arutz7, July 2014
  20. ↑ Israel, Turkey eager to rebuild Gaza, Globes English, June 2016
  21. 1 2 Palestinian Authority halts payments for Israeli electricity to Gaza: Israel, Reuters, 27th April 2017
  22. ↑ HAMAS BLAMES ABBAS FOR GAZA POWER PLANT SHUTDOWN, JPost, 18th April 2017
  23. 1 2 The humanitarian impact of Gaza’s electricity and fuel crisis, UN OCHA, March 2014
  24. ↑ With Only Three Hours of Electricity a Day, Gaza Is 'On Verge of Explosion', Ha'aretz, January 2017
  25. ↑ Israel cannot shirk its responsibility for Gaza’s electricity crisis, B'Tselem, 16 Jan 2017
  26. ↑ Gaza’s electricity crisis sheds light on gap between social classes, al-Monitor, March 2016
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