he Ministry of the Environment: Bazan refining group must stop production and storage of Bitumen

As a result of exceptional air pollution and violation of emission permits: The Ministry of the Environment issued an order to Bazan from the Ministry of Economy that bitumen is essential for the economy and the refineries are the only supplier in Israel. However, take note of the severity of the anomalies - the firm cannot extend beyond a limited period of no more than three months, and the closing will take place until April 16
Minister for the Environment, MK Ze'ev Elkin: "Unfortunately, the Bazan group - and not for the first time - does not meet the environmental requirements of the Ministry of Environmental Protection. ORL's bitumen production facility pollutes the air, did not meet the Ministry's requirements and did not meet the tables. The times we set for installing facilities to regulate emissions. Therefore, the Ministry of the Environment today announces the cessation of operation of the facility at the end of 3 months of preparation, until the plant meets all the requirements of the office and installs all the facilities required to do so. The Ministry of Environmental Protection will not allow exceeding the strict requirements for the clear permit that are clearly and transparently defined. The professional rank I presented to me was unequivocal, and as a habit, I give them full backing. I hope this will be a clear warning sign for the ORL group as well as for its other facilities and for all the polluting factories in the economy. We will not hesitate in the future when it is necessary to act resolutely with those who contaminate and cannot harm the health of the residents and the environment. "
As stated, the Ministry of the Environment issued Bazan (Oil Refineries) and its executives an administrative order under section 45 of the Clean Air Law, to cease bitumen production activity (asphalt for roads). ) That handles emissions from a production system, and storage and dispensing of bitumen at the ORL plant, which causes the emission values ​​in the scrubber installation chimney to contain volatile organic materials (expressed as TOC).
ORL, operating in the Haifa Bay, is required by the order signed by Haifa District Manager Shlomo Katz to cease production, storage and dispensing of bitumen, no later than April 16, 2020, until the company meets the values ​​set for it in the permit permit. , The firm ordered the company to immediately notify its customers of the said order and that they should prepare as soon as possible.
In response, the Ministry of Economy made it clear that the bitumen facility in Haifa refineries is the only bitumen supplier to the Israeli economy of 250,000 tons per year. Also note that this product is necessary for the economy, which is used by both the sealing industry of buildings, roofs and underground structures and the infrastructure sector.
The Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety has made it clear that the plant is of the utmost importance and that the entire process of asphalt production in the State of Israel depends on it. The Ministry of Transport added that the closure of the plant meant the cessation of asphalt production throughout the country, thus creating an unacceptable harm at the national level in terms of the development and maintenance of the entire road system. Both offices asked not to close the facility, and to allow it to continue operating in its current form, until the treatment facility was established at the end of 2020.
Despite the concern expressed by the ministries and the environmental severity, the ministry insisted that the exceptions be stopped. After examining the position of the Ministry of Economy and Transport and Safety and Roads that this plant is an essential plant, because it is the sole supplier of bitumen, and in light of the vitality of the economy, as the material without which asphalt production in the entire economy will be stopped, which could severely impair the development and maintenance of the entire road system. To give length to the economy's preparation. However, given the severity of the anomalies, the firm cannot extend beyond a limited period of no more than three months and not beyond.