Marani: Project should be declared a national priority
צילום שאול גולן, ארכיון ידיעות
Ashdod refinery switches to natural gas
Gas to replace crude oil in refining process; move expected to decrease pollution levels
The oil refinery in the southern town of Ashdod switched Wednesday to natural gas in its refining process instead of crude oil.
The refinery was connected to a transport system established by the Israel Natural Gas Lines Company and is set to purchase natural gas from the deep-sea drilling facility belonging to the Yam Tatis Company.
The Oil Refineries Ltd. (Bazan) refinery in Ashdod is the first industrial plant to use natural gas as an alternative. Until now, Yam Tatis' natural gas development was used to operate the Eshkol power station in Ashdod.
Switching from crude oil to natural gas is expected to immediately improve air quality in the Ashdod area.
Meanwhile, Bazan is in the midst of constructing a new power station in Ashdod at an estimated cost of USD 50 million that would supply electricity to the refinery.
'Should be declared a national project'
Over the next few months several other plants in the area are set to join the natural gas system, including Solbar Industries Ltd and the electricity company's Reading power station in Tel Aviv.
Israel Natural Gas Lines Company is also set to establish a system by July 2006 to deliver natural gas to the southern town of Ashkelon, which would join up with other power plants in the area.
"I'm calling on the government to speed up the natural gas project, to declare it a national project and to expand it to the north," Bazan Chairman Ohad Marani said.
"Using natural gas is an economic, political, social and environmental advantage and is expected to improve the quality of life," he said.
Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer and Ashdod Mayor Zvi Zilker participated in the inauguration ceremony Wednesday morning.
