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Last update - 18:19 26/11/2008
Short on fuel, Gazans use car batteries to restart power plant
By The Associated Press
Tags: Gaza Strip, Palestinian 

Power returned to large parts of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Wednesday when Palestinian workers figured out a way to use car batteries to help restart the territory's sole power plant.

Special batteries normally used to help run the plant died earlier this week, preventing it from restarting after Israel allowed limited amounts of fuel into the impoverished coastal enclave.

A director at the plant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the workers devised a solution to the problem by hooking generators up to 170 car batteries.
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"Thank God," the director said. "It's working."

He said the Palestinians had requested permission from Israel to import the special batteries used at the plant. But it was unclear if and when the batteries will arrive.

Israel has largely kept border crossings with Gaza closed since a bloody army raid on November 4, which triggered a surge in rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.

Israel allowed European Union-funded fuel into Gaza for the power plant on Monday and Wednesday. The local plant generates about a third of the electricity consumed by Gazans. The rest comes from Israel, which was continuing supply, and Egypt.

Palestinian fuel official Mahmoud Khazundar said shipments began Wednesday morning and that 70 tons were expected to enter the territory. He went on to say that the shipment was only a fraction of what Gaza's residents require.

Israel sealed its border crossings with Gaza on November 4, after clashes with Palestinian militants. Since then, only vital humanitarian aid has been allowed to pass through the crossings into the impoverished territory.

The cooking gas shortage has affected many Gazans, forcing some bakeries to close and families to cook using diesel or wood. The Strip has also experienced numerous blackouts due to a shortage of fuel for its power plant.

Some 10 trucks carrying aid and basic supplies also entered Gaza on Wednesday.

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      1.   Trying to beat Libya to the punch! 17:43  |  haa haa 26/11/08
      2.   Gaza running out of rocket fuel 18:17  |  AniAshkeloni 26/11/08
      3.   Cooking Gas into Gaza 18:22  |  Pamela 26/11/08
      4.   batteries for keys 18:46  |  Joe Hill 26/11/08
      5.   cleaver innovative Palestinians :) more power to you 19:04  |  and you zio`s? 26/11/08
      6.   Interesting 19:57  |  Colin Wright 26/11/08
      7.   Now that should invent something to stop Qassams/Hamas 00:09  |  Genuine Tosefta 27/11/08
      8.   all on 12volt batteries?? what do the specials run on ? 00:17  |  victor hardman 27/11/08
      9.   Wonderful, now Israel can keep the crossings shut forever 00:39  |  Genuine Tosefta 27/11/08
      10.   WELL PLANNED 01:00  |  TOBIA 27/11/08
      11.   ok even though i don`t like them, they deserve respect 01:04  |  antoine 27/11/08
      12.   Interestingly, the dozens of Qassam rockets are not mentioned 04:57  |  I 27/11/08
      13.   Since the shortage is in large part fabricated.. 06:34  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 27/11/08
      14.   Gazans use car batteries..... 07:46  |  Abdel Ilah Al-Bakri 27/11/08
      15.   British journalists. 08:24  |  Mario Sala 27/11/08
      16.   #5 hehe they got one thing right 10:01  |  wow! 27/11/08
      17.   Abdel you wingnut for years Israelis trucked in food for your 10:51  |  sob 27/11/08
      18.   Invade Gaza and Destroy Hamas (please) 11:06  |  Baruch Gold 27/11/08
      19.   This is shocking! 21:09  |  Dutch 27/11/08
      20.   if that`s not the epitome of being cursed,i don`t know what is; 20:34  |  glenna 28/11/08
      21.   LORD FORGIVE ME FOR LAUGHING AT THE WICKED;BUT I JUST COULD NOT 20:36  |  glenna 28/11/08
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