Israel opens Gaza crossing for fuel deliveries

JERUSALEM, Aug 19 (Reuters) Israel opened a border crossing with the Gaza Strip for fuel shipments today after some power generators in the coastal area were shut down.

Palestinian officials had said up to 400,000 Gaza residents faced the possibility of having no electricity after the strip's main power plant scaled back operations, causing blackouts throughout the territory.

An army spokesman said Israel had opened the Nahal Oz crossing with Gaza to allow fuel to be delivered.

Israel supplies most of Gaza's electricity as part of past interim peace deals, but started to cut off fuel supplies late last week, citing security concerns in opening border crossings.

According to Palestinian and Israeli officials, Gaza's population uses approximately 200 megawatts of electricity, out of which 120 are provided directly from Israeli power lines, 17 are delivered from Egypt, and 65 are produced at the Gaza plant.

REUTERS JT HT1325