Over 130 Exceedances in One Week: The Harsh Demand from Bazan

Since last Friday, more than 130 half-hourly measurements of benzene above the alert value have been recorded at Bazan's monitoring station in Haifa Bay. The Haifa Bay Cities Association for Environmental Protection demands that Bazan deepen its inspections, present operational data, and locate the source of emissions. Inspections at the Gadiv plant found no leaks, but the association clarifies that a point-in-time check is insufficient.

Since last Friday, more than 130 half-hourly measurements of benzene above the alert value of 10 micrograms per cubic meter have been recorded at Bazan's operational monitoring station, located at the fence of the Bazan complex in Haifa Bay. The data led the Haifa Bay Cities Association for Environmental Protection to demand that Bazan deepen its inspections, present the relevant operational data, and act to locate the source of emissions. The association emphasizes that the fact that no leak was found during a point-in-time inspection does not provide a sufficient response to the multitude of exceedances measured. Following the rise in benzene concentrations, teams from the association and the Ministry of Environmental Protection conducted tours and inspections at the Gadiv plant. In a surprise tour held on August 2, the plant was required to transfer operational data and coordinate additional inspections. In another tour held yesterday (Thursday), benzene storage tanks and fuel dispensing activity were examined using a thermal camera, and no leaks were found. The association clarifies that inspections are ongoing and that all possible sources of the rise in benzene concentrations must continue to be examined until the source of the exceedances is located and addressed. The association emphasizes that the multitude of exceedances requires continued inspection until a full and clear picture is obtained, and that the absence of findings in a point-in-time inspection does not substitute for locating the source of emissions.