Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



EU resumes provisional fuel payments to Gaza
Published in Daily News Egypt on 23 - 08 - 2007

CAIRO: The EU has agreed to resume funding to Gaza's main power station on a provisional basis after receiving guarantees that Hamas would not apply taxes to the electricity bills.
The funding resumed after EU officials met with Fatah-appointed Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. A statement was released Tuesday by the two parties announcing that audits would be carried out to guarantee that "fuel aid in Gaza remains properly managed.
Egypt had earlier criticized the EU decision to suspend funding of the main electrical power plant in Gaza out of fear that they were inadvertently funding Hamas, and has pledged to continue supplying the strip with electricity.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said in a statement that "playing with the essential services of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip shouldn t be allowed, whatever the pretext.
"Agreements to supply electricity to Gaza s inhabitants should remain as they are, and no party, whoever they might be, should use basic utilities as political cards, he added.
During the shut down, Egypt continued to supply Gaza with electricity, contributing a total of 5-10 percent of the area's needs or 17 megawatts out of the required 200 megawatts.
"This is part of our commitment to provide all kinds of possible support to the Palestinians, Zaki said.
The Gaza Generating Co. shut down three of its four generators on Friday, with the blackouts affecting many of Gaza's 1.5 million residents. The press reported that hospitals had heavily been on the receiving end of the power shortages and had to rely on generators.
The EU stated it would cease funding unless it received guarantees that Hamas - a group which the EU considers to be a terrorist organization - was not profiting from the fuel payments.
A spokeswoman for the European Commission said Monday, "We have been made to understand that Hamas plans to introduce taxes on electricity bills in the Gaza Strip and . this would not allow us to continue paying for fuel.
"We are ready to resume paying for these fuel deliveries within hours once we have received assurances that these taxes will not be introduced, the spokeswoman added.
The EU allocates 6.5 million euros annually to the Gaza power station, which supplies 25-30 percent of Gaza's electricity needs.
Hamas, in control of Gaza since ousting Fatah two months ago, denied diversion of any funds from the electricity company and stated it would provide the necessary guarantees the EU requested.
Additionally, Israel shut the main fuel crossing in Gaza, Nahal Oz, last week which directly caused the shut down of the generators.
The Israeli Dor Alon fuel company said it will not resume providing fuel without guarantees of continued EU funding, the Financial Times reported.


Clic here to read the story from its source.