Following benzene emissions: Work at the Gadiv plant completely halted

The Ministry of Environmental Protection ordered a complete halt to maintenance and renovation work at the Gadiv plant, following recurring benzene emission incidents in Haifa Bay and a request from Mayor Yona Yahav. The Haifa Municipality postponed the hearing for Bazan and renewed temporary permits for 60 days.

Following recurring benzene emission incidents in Haifa Bay, the Ministry of Environmental Protection ordered a complete halt to maintenance and renovation work at the Gadiv plant, pending a full investigation into the circumstances of the incidents. The decision came after a request from Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, who demanded concrete steps in light of repeated deviations in benzene concentrations and concerns for public health. Meanwhile, the Haifa Municipality postponed the hearing for the Bazan Group plants, which was scheduled for today, by 30 days, and renewed the temporary permits for Bazan, Carmel Olefins, and Gadiv for only 60 days, subject to strict conditions. The latest deviation was recorded on October 22 at the monitoring station in Kiryat Binyamin, at a concentration of 3.93 micrograms per cubic meter. Yahav stated that residents' health takes precedence over any other consideration.