(Hai Fa – Haifa and the surrounding area news corporation) – The Ministry of Environmental Protection has informed the management of the Gadiv Plant of the Bazan Group that the resumption of renovation and maintenance work at facilities high in benzene will not be approved until additional measures are presented that will ensure maximum reduction of emissions of the carcinogenic substance. At this stage, the Ministry is allowing a limited return to work only at facilities where the benzene content is lower than 1%, subject to compliance with the requirements of the updated administrative order. The decision was made after four daily exceptions were recorded in benzene concentrations at monitoring stations in the area during the month of October. Following one of the exceptions, the Ministry of Health ordered the closure of two schools in the area.
Four benzene exceptions in a short time
The decision of the Ministry of Environmental Protection was communicated to the plant management on Wednesday (11.11.26), after a professional review of the monitoring data, the plant reports and the findings collected in the field. Work at the plant was halted following four daily deviations in benzene concentrations measured at the environmental monitoring stations in a short period of time during October, while the vast majority of the renovation and maintenance work was still pending.
Benzene is defined as a definite carcinogen, and exposure to its emissions may endanger public health. Following the abnormalities, the ministry decided to take strict measures and order the halt of work, in order to reduce the exposure of residents of the area to the substance.
Benzene-rich facilities will remain outside the work plan.
After reviewing the request submitted by the plant to resume the work, the ministry decided not to approve their return in the format proposed in facilities with high levels of benzene, where the substance's content may reach tens of percent.
To enable the resumption of work at these facilities, the ministry is demanding that Magdib present additional measures that will ensure maximum reduction of benzene emissions and prevent the recurrence of abnormalities in the substance's concentrations.
In contrast, facilities with benzene levels below 1% have been approved for limited return to work. The approval is conditional on compliance with all provisions of the updated administrative order, including the stricter monitoring and control requirements that have been added to it.
Round-the-clock tours and stopping steam work when necessary
The updated order requires the plant to take all measures at its disposal to prevent deviations from the daily environmental standard for benzene. Among other things, requirements were set for monitoring and control, conducting round-the-clock tours of facilities where work is taking place, performing the work in a phased manner, and stopping all steam operations as necessary.
The requirements are designed to reduce the risk of abnormal emissions during maintenance work, while closely monitoring the plant's operations and its impact on air quality in the area.
The relationship between steam operations and increased benzene concentrations
An analysis conducted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of monitoring data, wind directions, factory reports, and field findings indicates that there is a close connection between the steaming and purification operations carried out by the factory and the increases in benzene concentrations measured at the monitoring stations.
The ministry notes that the connection is also found in relation to the last daily deviation, which was measured on October 22 at the monitoring station in Kiryat Binyamin. The deviation occurred even after the ministry had already ordered measures to reduce emissions within the framework of the administrative order of October 14 and its update on October 18.
The factory did not present a satisfactory response to prevent further irregularities.
Since the work was halted, there has been ongoing professional dialogue between the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Gadiv management. As part of the dialogue, the plant's claims were examined, and with the assistance of an external consultant, additional measures were proposed to reduce benzene emissions.
However, according to the ministry, the factory did not present a sufficient professional explanation for the source of the latest deviation and did not propose alternatives that would ensure a sufficient response to prevent the recurrence of similar deviations. It was also reported that most of the additional recommendations presented by the ministry were not accepted by the factory. As a result, the ministry decided to update the administrative order and add stricter monitoring and control requirements.
The ministry rejects the factory's claims that the decisions made in its case stemmed from irrelevant considerations. According to them, the factory's positions were examined throughout the process, and some of the demands were even updated after a professional basis was found for them. The ministry emphasizes that the decisions are based on monitoring data, findings in the field, and the professional examination that was conducted.
"The health of residents is the top priority"
Minister of Environmental Protection, Idit Silman, said: "The health of the residents is a top priority and the ministry will insist on taking all necessary measures to protect them and the environment. The plant must meet the requirements of the ministry's professional bodies who continuously follow and monitor the work and air quality indicators, for the benefit of the workers, the residents and the environment. The ministry works in coordination with the relevant ministries and will update on any developments."
Director General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Rami Rosen, He added: "The ministry requires the factory to comply with all the provisions of the order and is continuously supervising their implementation. The monitoring data and findings on the ground guided the decisions made and will also guide the continued supervision of the factory. The ministry will continue to act with determination and discretion, out of an uncompromising commitment to protecting public health and the environment in Haifa Bay and in general."
Haifa District Director at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Dorit Ziss, noted that the sequence of abnormalities measured during the work requires a re-examination of the manner in which it was carried out, and that it is not possible to be satisfied with the measures taken so far. According to her, the limited approval to resume work at facilities where the benzene content is lower than 1% is based on an analysis of the monitoring data and a professional examination of the characteristics of the facilities and the risks involved in the work, and is conditional on meeting the ministry's requirements.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection notes that the incident is being handled in coordination and consultation with the Ministry of Health, and that the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure is regularly updated on developments. The ministry will continue to monitor the execution of the work and the plant's compliance with the established conditions, and will act in accordance with the findings and the need to protect public health and environmental quality in Haifa Bay.