Othman: Egypt to provide fuel for Gaza

The Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority said Sunday that Egypt will provide fuel to Gaza in the next few days, despite an energy crisis of its own. Egypt is currently importing diesel from abroad to fill a deficit in local consumption, Yasser Othman told Ma'an. Egypt will provide the Gaza energy authority with fuel from the imported supplies. "The Gaza Strip needs 40 to 45 million liters of fuel a month, 15 million liters of that is specially for the electricity company. It’s very difficult because Gaza's fuel needs are more than four Egyptian governorates," Othman said. Last year the Egyptian government spent around $500 million to address an energy crisis in the country, he said. The energy crisis in Egypt is caused by fuel smuggling along its borders, he added.