PA and Israel Agree on Cooperation in Energy Sector

[Quetzal]

PA and Israel Agree on Cooperation in Energy Sector

The Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority and Israeli Ministry of Infrastructure have today agreed on the outline of a Joint Energy Office that aims to facilitate coordination of energy matters and improve the electricity supply for the Palestinian population.

The parties also began negotiations to streamline the supply and exchange of electricity as well as restructure the tariff of electricity to the benefit of Palestinian consumers.

Palestinians pay among the highest rates for electricity of any people around the world as prices are imposed on a monopolistic basis, negatively affecting the development of the Palestinian electricity distribution sector. Palestinian electricity infrastructure is also substandard in relation to the sums of money paid for the electricity and in relation to the infrastructure in neighboring countries.

The parties agreed to examine the priority projects for the supply of electricity in the Occupied Gaza Strip and emergency electricity infrastructure projects of common interest as identified in previous agreements. The European Commission intends to promote these projects for funding by international financial institutions.

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PA and Israel Agree on Cooperation in Energy Sector