EAPC Faces 140 Million Shekel Class-Action Lawsuit Over Eilat Air Pollution
A 140 million shekel class-action lawsuit was filed against EAPC in Beersheba over severe air pollution and fuel odors affecting Eilat residents.
A class-action lawsuit amounting to 140 million shekels has been filed at the Beersheba District Court against the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC) and Europe Asia Pipeline Company. Two local taxi drivers initiated the legal proceeding, claiming that the operation of the fuel storage facility and municipal oil port has caused severe odor nuisances and heavily impacted air quality over approximately five years.
The filing details a continuous pattern of pollution between 2021 and 2025, which negatively affected an estimated population of 70,000 people, including local residents, tourists, and workers. To substantiate their claims, the plaintiffs attached documentation of 142 official complaints received by the Eilat municipality regarding strong fuel and oil odors, alongside an official appeal by the mayor to company management following a malfunction in a vapor combustion unit. The plaintiffs noted that the intense odors caused severe physical symptoms such as nausea, headaches, suffocation, and dizziness.
The requested sum in the lawsuit is based on a non-pecuniary damage estimate of approximately 2,000 shekels for each individual exposed to the hazards, alongside a request to enforce the environmental principle that the polluter must pay for the damage caused. In addition to financial relief, the plaintiffs are asking the court to issue a permanent injunction obligating EAPC to draft binding operating procedures to prevent the recurrence of odor and pollution hazards in the future.
In response, EAPC completely rejects all allegations and the claimed amounts. The company stated that it is committed to environmental protection, invests extensive resources in it, and operates in accordance with the strictest guidelines and standards. The company further noted that an initial review of the motion suggests the claims are baseless, and a detailed response will be submitted to the court after studying the documents.
