A Survey of Palestinian Industry: Sale of Electric Power before 1948 (Nakba), British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 513. Chapter XIII: Section 4

CHAPTER XIII.

margarine, matches, cigarettes etc.) ; since 1944 the number of such associations has been increasing (assembly shops for engines, manufacture of safes, metal-containers, paints, chocolates, cereal products etc.).

124. A distinctive feature of the industrial complex in Palestine is Labour's role as an industrial producer. Although the agricultural communal settlements frequently operate workshops in an effort to diversify the source of cash income and to absorb seasonal unemployment, their share of the country's production is not appreciable. Somewhat more prominent are the producers' cooperatives; but even they, with the exception of the transport co-operatives, do not predominate in any branch. Otherwise, however, is the case with a group of industries affiliated to the Sole! Boneh (the Labour Federation's construction company) and the Hamashbir Hamerkasi (the Wholesale Co-operative Society). They have, in recent years, acquired control over a number of major enterprises, among which are the Vulcan Foundries, the Phoenicia Glass Works, the Hamgaper Rubber Company, and, recently, the Shemen Oil Company and Nesber Cement Works.

E. Power.

125. Figures of sales of electrical energy and consumption of crude oil and refined petroleum products point to the marked increase that has occurred in the power resources of the country.

126. The first hydro-electric station was started in 1926 and was followed by the construction of two steam turbine plants in Haifa and Tel Aviv in 1935 and 1938 respectively. In 1929 the Jerusalem Electric and Public Service Corporation commenced its supply of electricity to Jerusalem and its environs. The total installed capacity in 1945 was 76,000 KW. with the Palestine Electric Corporation and 11,000 KW. with the Jerusalem Electric. Both corporations are in the course of completing appreciable extension in plant; the former has already exploited to the full the surplus capacity which bad, with some foresight, been erected prior to the outbreak of hostilities.

SALES OF Electric Power (THOUSAND KwH).

Total Industry Irrigation
1939 91,,75 25,584 28.504
1940 101,388 36,258 28,234
1941 111,693 33,571 33,298
1942 133,488 42,364 37,411
1943 161,624 50,781 45,767
1944 187,811 58,020 49,965
1945 (estimated) 210,000 70,000 50,000
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