Abstract
AN account of electric supply in Palestine since it was initiated in 1923, given in Electrical Industries of December 2, is of special interest in connexion with the political rioting which began last April. The pioneer of this supply was Mr. P. Rutenberg, who enlisted the support of the late Lord Melchett and the Baron E. de Rothschild. It was decided to have a national power supply from water-power, but as the rainfall for Palestine lasts only four months in the year, it was necessary to store the winter ‘ rainfall in reservoirs, the construction of which would take several years. It was advisable therefore to use temporary Diesel engine power stations at Haifa and Jaffa to begin the supply, whilst the Dagania dam across the River Jordan and the large one on the Tarmuck River were being constructed. In addition to these dams, Lake Tiberias, which forms a natural reservoir with a surface of 170 million square metres, was utilized. The water-power is converted into electrical power which by high-pressure electricity is distributed to Haifa and thence to the north and south of Palestine. In addition, a steam turbine power house was constructed in 1935 and a large power house called the ‘Reading’ (after the late Marquess of Reading) is being built in southern Palestine.
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Electric Supply in Palestine. Nature 139, 105 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1038/139105b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/139105b0