Channels

Photo: Gil Yohanan
Minister Ben Eliezer
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Israel to allow electricity import from Jordan to Jericho

National infrastructure minister agrees to allow East Jerusalem Electric Company for first time to connect to Jordanian power supply

National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer approved the setting up of an electricity connection between Jericho and the Jordanian kingdom. If the project materializes, this would be the first time that a Palestinian Authority town receives its power supply from a foreign country.

 

The East Jerusalem Electric Company is an Israeli-Palestinian firm owned by the Jerusalem Municipality and several Palestinian municipalities. The company buys electricity from the Israel Electric Company and sells it to the Arab residents of east Jerusalem and to the Jericho, Bethlehem and Ramallah area in the Palestinian Authority. The company requested permission from the National Infrastructure Ministry to import Jordanian electricity and connect its power infrastructure to Jordan via 33 kilowatt power lines.

 

Ben Eliezer authorized the east Jerusalem company to acquire electricity from the Jordanians for use in Jericho alone, in order to use the project in town as a pilot and thus explore the possibility of importing electricity to other locations in Israel and the territories. The National Infrastructure Ministry reported that the project would decrease the power load on the Israel Electric Company, as well as contribute to the relations with Jordan. Ministry officials added that the project has already been approved by the Jordanian king and prime minister.

 

Jericho's power consumption stands at 20 megawatt.

 

"This is the first materialization of the government's decision to import electricity from neighboring countries," Minister Ben Eliezer said. "I believe that other countries will follow in Jordan's footsteps and that in the future we will have here a regional power network," he added.

 

Moshe Zur, a financial advisor for the East Jerusalem Company, said that "acquiring Jordanian electricity would increase the company's energy supply and allow its costumers to enjoy cheaper electricity than provided by the Israel Electric Company. In addition, the deal would alleviate the power load on the Israeli company."

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.25.06, 19:11
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment