Haifa Demands Emissions Treatment and Alternatives to BAZAN Closure
The National Planning and Building Council has set conditions for the demolition of a tank damaged during the 'Roar of the Lion' war and the construction of a new one. The Haifa Bay Association of Towns for Environmental Protection demands a binding resolution on environmental hazards at the BAZAN complex.
The Haifa Bay Association of Towns for Environmental Protection is demanding that approval for the construction of a new distillate tank at the BAZAN complex be conditional upon a comprehensive treatment of existing environmental hazards and the presentation of an alternative for closing the facility.
The demand follows the National Planning and Building Council's discussion of BAZAN's request for a building permit exemption to replace a tank damaged during the 'Roar of the Lion' war. The Council has set specific stages and conditions for the demolition of the damaged tank in parallel with the construction of the new one.
The Association insists that the process must include a binding response regarding emissions, soil treatment, and existing hazards at the site. They emphasize that it is not possible to promote point-specific approvals for continued industrial activity without addressing the overall need to reduce industrial operations in the bay.
According to the Association, which represents local authorities in the Haifa Bay area, BAZAN remains the primary source of air pollution, posing significant environmental, security, and energy risks. The Association maintains that the government must promote an orderly plan to cease BAZAN's operations and close the complex, while creating national alternatives to ensure Israel's energy security.
The Association notes that during pipeline work last August, three exceedances of carcinogenic substances were measured near a social high school in Kiryat Ata. Furthermore, in the last month, 130 benzene-related incidents were recorded at BAZAN plants, requiring emergency team activation. Recent exceedances were also measured at the school and Kishon Park, yet the plant's emergency teams have been unable to locate the source of the emissions.
"BAZAN is a central source of air pollution in the bay and also constitutes a significant security and energy risk. Energy security is an important goal, but it cannot come at the expense of the health and safety of the bay's residents," stated Avihu Han, Deputy and Acting Mayor of Haifa and Chairman of the Association.
Dr. Lihi Shahar Berman, CEO of the Association, added:
"The data we receive from the monitoring system requires continued professional examination of emission sources. When exceedances are measured, the plant's responsibility is to identify the source, understand the cause, and ensure they are treated. It is not possible to expand or continue industrial activity at the complex without providing a response to existing hazards and accumulated risks."
