The world bank will support solar energy projects in the Gaza

Frequent power outages in the Gaza Strip is heightening the political tensions in the region.

The cause of the shortage is on the one hand simple and on the other complicated, with some citizens blaming Hamas, the Islamist group that runs Gaza, Hamas officials blaming the rival Palestinian Authority, based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and still others pointing the finger at Israel.

The World Bank has helped set up a USD $11 million fund to support the construction of rooftop solar projects which it believes could be the best solution to the Gazan energy crisis.

The project is designed to expeditiously expand and engender the mobilization of the private sector to install 1,000 rooftop panels.

This is made possible through a multi-donor trust fund partnership called Development Partners. The partners include the World Bank with the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company and the Palestinian Authority.

A new World Bank report indicates that more than 150 megawatts of solar power can be produced in the Gaza Strip.