Under Fuel Sanctions, Gazans Power Taxis With Falafel Oil
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 05.19.08
The leftover oil from falafel, a yummy fried Middle Eastern snack, is now powering taxi cars in Gaza. Faced with fuel sanctions, petrol stations in Gaza are empty. While leftover cooking oil from street vendors, mixed with turpentine doesn’t drive like the diesel they are used to, it helps pay the bills.
"It takes time to get it going in the morning," said Hassan Amin al-Bana, 40, at Gaza City's main taxi stand: "I know it's bad for my car, but I have to pay for food for my kids so what can I do?"
According to Reuters, Gaza’s taxi drivers say the used falafel oil works much better than the fresh stuff smuggled in from the Gaza-Egypt border. They either beg for it from falafel vendors, or buy it from the vendors who are hawking it for a profit.
(image: Reuters)
"It makes the cars smell like a kitchen -- you feel like falafel is following you," said Ahmed al-Beltaji, crinkling his nose. "Next week they'll be putting water in there."
Beltaji runs a falafel stand near a taxi station and started selling his falafel oil leftovers in April. Others are turning to other creative measures –– using cooking canisters to power their cars, or are traveling by donkey or bicycle.
Since the Hamas takeover last June, Israel has put sanctions on fuel and goods entering Gaza. There is a limited supply of diesel on the black market but it costs about $6 liter, more than three times the price in Israel, and more than most Gazans could afford.
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The TH Interview: Nasser Abufarha of Canaan Fair Trade and the Palestinian Fair Trade Association
Celebrate Independence… From Pesticides in Your Falafel
::Reuters via :: The Truth Herzl
So they are just pouring SVO/WVO into their diesel engines? Or is it a VO and turpentine mixture? Do they heat this mixture?
That's no ordinary grease-car; that's a greasy-falafel-with-hummus-mobile. Sweet!
It's interesting that the Gazans are looking at this as a last resort and not as a future opportunity. What they are doing is using biodiesel, something more affluent countries are trying to do.
Maybe these fuel shortages will inspire Gazans to become more energy self-sufficient...
I thought about this a bit ago, go to http://indianhillmediaworks.typepad.com/energy_matters/2008/03/gaza-and-modern.html
if you want to check it out