(haipo) – Environmental organizations and residents of the Haifa metropolitan area are demanding that the order allowing the construction of a new power plant be canceled without supervision and planning.
The environmental organizations Magma Green, "Cleaning Haifa Bay", the Tzulul Association and residents of the Haifa metropolis have filed a petition with the High Court of Justice demanding that the order allowing Bazan to build a new power plant in the refinery complex be canceled, without a permit, without examining alternatives and without an environmental impact assessment. The petitioners claim that this is a dangerous planning scam that circumvents the law and harms public health, and that the move could delay and even thwart the government's decision to close the plants by 2029.
The order was approved on the strength of a vote – without examining alternatives and without an environmental review
The order to build the power plant was signed several weeks ago and approved by the National Planning and Building Council by a majority of only one vote, despite widespread public and professional opposition. According to the petitioners, the procedure was carried out in circumvention of accepted planning rules, without an environmental review and without examining alternatives, contrary to procedures designed to protect the health of residents.
The order was issued under Section 266E of the Planning and Building Law, which is intended for projects of national importance only. The petitioners claim that an internal power plant for a factory does not meet this definition, and that the section was used following pressure from industrialists and the Ministry of Energy.
Security Background: The Attack on Bazan and Its Consequences
Last June, the BAZN energy center was hit by an Iranian missile and three workers were killed. The attack shut down the plant's operations and highlighted the risk of operating petrochemical infrastructure in the heart of the Haifa metropolis. Despite this, BAZN returned to almost full operation after repairing the facilities and installing replacement steam boilers.
The petitioners claim that the security incident proves the need to reduce dependence on the BAZN, not to deepen it through a new power plant.
Construction of a new power plant could thwart the evacuation of the city
Government Resolution 1231 from 2022 determined that the BZN plants would be evacuated by 2029. Building a new power plant, which requires huge investments, could delay and even prevent the closure of the refineries and perpetuate their polluting activities in the heart of a populated area.
At the same time, ZANN is promoting additional plans to expand the complex, including a sulfur solidification facility, whose application was rejected last week due to violations of the conditions of the emission permit.
Infection, morbidity and Ministry of Health data
The BN plants are considered among the largest polluters in Israel. According to data from the Ministry of Health, their activity is linked to excess cancer and asthma in the Haifa Bay area. The government evacuation plan includes environmental rehabilitation, socio-economic development, and the construction of 100 housing units, a move that could be harmed if the power plant is approved.
Organizations' responses: "We will continue to fight until Haifa Bay is free of pollution"
Royat Stossel, cleaning up the Haifa Bay: "The state is already promoting safe alternatives for storing distillates. The new planning processes must not be jeopardized. We have already stopped one expansion in the High Court and will do it again."
Attorney Omer Bachman of the firm 'Brinnet, Bachman - Law Firm', who represents the Haifa Bay Cleanup Organization and the residents of the metropolis in the petition, told Haifa:
"As someone who has been following this struggle for about ten years, first of all as a Haifa resident who is personally familiar with the price that Haifa residents pay for the presence of polluting factories and then also as a lawyer who took part in the opposition to the expansion of the refineries, I see great importance in the petition, which is intended to preserve the achievements that were achieved with great effort in the Supreme Court and in the planning institutions - the promise that no polluting facilities will be added to the refineries except through a proper planning process that includes public participation and with proper professional examination of the implications for public health and the environment of each facility."
Dr. Yuval Arbel, clear"Establishing a new power plant is contrary to the government's decision and plans to close the petrochemical industry. Evacuating the refineries is an existential necessity for sustainable development in Haifa Bay."
Tomer Gretel, Green Trend"Instead of implementing the government's decision to restore Haifa Bay, the Ministry of Energy is promoting a move that serves the interests of the Bay of Haifa and ignores the health of the residents. We cannot allow a handful of lobbyists to stop this historic move. We will continue to fight in court as well."
Elias Bershadsky, Green Movement activist"A dangerous decision that deepens dependence on polluting infrastructure. A security crisis is not an excuse for deepening civilian risk. The move must be stopped and clean alternatives examined."
What does Mayor Yahav think about the issue of re-establishing Bazan with enormous illnesses and damages over decades without violating rights in a prudent and seemingly prudent manner? Is the Mayor in favor of re-establishing Bazan because this is the hijacking and its goal is to drain government capital and the public… It is forbidden to allow a hijacking even after the government has decided to dismantle Bazan factories and move them to another location in Haifa. This is a joke from the public, a mockery of the Rash, we must rise up in huge demonstrations and advertise on the networks.
Keep barking and the convoy will pass.
Without a BAZN, the country could be shut down.
There is no air pollution at all in Zaan. It switched to natural gas a long time ago, so this is a lie to the public.
The municipality and the various environmental protection organizations should unite, call on the public to protest near the Knesset, demonstrate and block the Histadrut axis near the BAZN. Invite the media to cover it. Pale responses will not prevent powerful vested interests from carrying out their plan.
In addition,
Close all gas stations that sell Bazn products, prevent the paving of roads where asphalt comes from Bazn, prevent cooking gas coming from Bazn, and so on and so forth….