The belief which prevailed at one time that Palestine was not a suitable country for industrial development does not hold true today, the magazine The Electrician declares.
This belief was mainly based on the theory that Palestine lacked all essential raw materials for the development of industry and was devoid of cheap power resources, the periodical says.
According to the article, the first change came about with the establishment of the Jordan hydro-electric power station, which first brought cheap current to Palestine. Immigration, too, brought in its wake much capital ready for investment and created a more or less made-to-measure market. It also provided many Jewish technicians from the Nazi dominated countries.
The supply of electric current comes from two concessionaires, the Palestine Electric Corporation and the Jerusalem Electric and Public Service Corporation, Ltd., the publication says. Current also is produced privately in a number of cases. This occurs chiefly in industrial undertakings and in places far from the supply system.
The J.E.C. operates a Diesel plant in Jerusalem and the P.E.C. has at its disposal similar plants in three centers, as well as steam power plants in two towns.
Power supply for industry, irrigation and water supply are the chief consumers and the remainder is largely employed for lighting. The per capita sales of current by both companies jumped from 13 kw in 1932 to 55 kw in 1936.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
