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GAZA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Energy Authority in Gaza said on Thursday that the only power plant in the strip will be shut down temporarily due to fuel shortage.
"The power plant will be shut down temporarily as there is no fuel to operate it these days," the authority said in a statement on its website.
The decision was made following an interruption at the Karm Abu Salem commercial crossing, one of two operating Israeli crossings out of the blockaded coastal enclave through which Gaza's goods are transported, including fuel, the statement said.
Gazans require 480 to 500 megawatts of power daily, but can get only 210 megawatts, which include 120 megawatts exported by Israel and 30 megawatts from Egypt, while the rest is generated by the plant.
Under "normal" circumstances, Gazans would get eight hours of power supply followed by eight hours of power outage.
When fuel is in shorter supply, people in Gaza have to endure 12-hour power outages before the six hours of power supply.
On Wednesday, the Palestinian National Authority said that the commercial Karm Abu Salem crossing was closed by Israeli authorities due to a mugging attack and sabotage by unknown assailants.
On Thursday morning, the crossing was reopened.
The Gaza Strip, with a population of more than 1.8 million, has been under Israeli blockade since 2007, when the Islamic Hamas movement took control of the enclave.
