Palestinian government inaugurates a gas field in Gaza

The Palestinian government yesterday inaugurated the first field for natural gas off the coast of the city of Gaza, said the Israeli radio.

The radio added that the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat lit the first candle to mark the beginning of work in gas exploration.

The radio also quoted Abdul Rahman Hamdi, the official in charge of energy at the Palestinian government as saying that available estimation indicate that the amounts found meet the requirements of the Palestinians and a surplus is expected to be exported.