Cablegate: Fuel Shipments to Gaza Cut; Sufa Crossing Closed

VZCZCXRO2104
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #2239 3021539
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 291539Z OCT 07
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9436
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 002239

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELRADE; PRM FOR PDAS GREENE AND
PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR
KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON KPAL KWBG PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: FUEL SHIPMENTS TO GAZA CUT; SUFA CROSSING CLOSED

1. (SBU) Summary: Gaza-based Director of the Palestinian
General Petroleum Corporation Mujahad Salama confirmed cuts
in fuel deliveries to Gaza on October 29. The Gaza Power
Plant received all 300,000 liters of fuel oil it had
requested for the day, but there were no gasoline imports,
according to Salama. Sufa crossing was closed October 29,
leaving only Kerem Shalom crossing open to Gaza shipments and
cutting the capacity for imports by roughly 50 percent until
Kerem Shalom is expanded. End summary.

Diesel Fuel Cut;
No Gasoline
-----------

2. (SBU) According to Director of the Palestinian General
Petroleum Corporation (the PA's fuel agency in Gaza) Mojahed
Salama, October 29 fuel imports into Gaza through the Nahal
Oz fuel transfer station were as follows:
Industrial fuel oil - 300,000 liters (average quantity);
Diesel fuel - 190,000 (average quantity is 300,000 liters);
Gasoline - none (average quantity is 120,000 liters);
Cooking gas - 280 tons (average quantity).

Sufa Crossing Closed;
Import Capacity Reduced By Half
-------------------------------

3. (SBU) Gaza-based OCHA representative Hamada al-Bayari
told econoff the Sufa crossing was closed on October 29.
Al-Bayari said that import capacity, aside from the grain
imports shipped at Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing's
conveyer belt, will decline from roughly 120 truckloads to 60
truckloads each day through Kerem Shalom, as a result of
Sufa's closure.

Kerem Shalom Crossing To Expand
-------------------------------

4. (SBU) WFP Logistics Coordinator Bekim Mahmati told
econoff on October 29 that the PA is currently overseeing an
expansion project of the cemented surface at Kerem Shalom,
and is expected to bring the crossing's daily shipping
capacity from 60 truckloads to 100 truckloads by the end of
November.
WALLES

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