DaysofPal- Rebuilding Gaza’s electricity sector will require an estimated $1.5 billion after widespread destruction caused by the ongoing Israeli genocidal war, according to Mohammad Thabet, spokesperson for the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company.
Speaking during the “Pulse of Gaza” program organized by the Palestine newspaper, Thabet revealed that approximately 85 percent of Gaza’s electricity distribution network has been destroyed since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023.
He added that 90 percent of the company’s warehouses and 75 percent of its headquarters and branch offices have also been damaged or destroyed.
Initial financial losses are estimated at $977 million, a figure expected to rise as large areas of the Gaza Strip remain inaccessible due to ongoing military operations.
Thabet said Gaza has been deprived of all its energy sources since the early days of the war. Before the Israeli war, the territory relied on 12 electricity lines supplying around 120 megawatts, in addition to 60 megawatts generated by its sole power plant, which has since ceased operations.
The Gaza Strip, home to more than two million people across 365 square kilometers, previously required between 600 and 680 megawatts of electricity to meet its needs. Currently, however, it lacks any stable energy supply.
According to Thabet, the war has also destroyed more than 5,142 kilometers of distribution networks. He noted that damage assessments do not include areas under Israeli military control, which account for roughly 70 percent of the territory.
Despite the challenges, the electricity company has attempted to provide limited support to essential services by supplying generators and alternative cables to hospitals, municipalities, and water wells.
Since October 2023, Gaza has been deprived of more than 3.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. The conflict has also taken a heavy human toll on the sector, with 48 company employees killed, around 100 injured, and more than 50 contracted workers also losing their lives.
Thabet outlined urgent reconstruction needs, including 15,000 wooden poles, 10,000 steel poles, 500 kilometers of medium-voltage networks, 7,000 kilometers of low-voltage networks, 200 transformers, and heavy equipment such as cranes and excavators to clear debris and rebuild infrastructure.
However, he stressed that ongoing restrictions on Gaza are preventing the entry of critical materials required for repairs and reconstruction, further hindering the restoration of electricity services vital to healthcare, education, and commerce.
He called on the international community to intervene and ensure the provision of stable and sustainable energy sources to prevent a total collapse of essential services.
Thabet also warned that reliance on private generators and remaining solar systems is not a viable long-term solution.
He noted that some local operators have turned generator use into a commercial venture, selling electricity at prices ranging between 25 and 37 shekels per kilowatt-hour, depending on fuel availability.
While the electricity company has allowed limited use of its network by generator operators to maintain service delivery, Thabet acknowledged concerns over unauthorized use of public infrastructure for profit.
He concluded that, if sufficient materials are allowed into Gaza, rebuilding the electricity sector and restoring it to pre-war conditions could take between three and five years.
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