The end of the road for Bazan refineries? Haifa Municipality's dramatic move

Haifa Municipality summoned the managements of the Bazan refineries for a hearing following benzene pollution that closed two schools in Kiryat Ata. The permits are expected to expire at the end of the month, and the possibility of shutting down the plants is on the table.

Haifa Municipality summoned the managements of the three Bazan refineries for a hearing, following the benzene pollution that led to the closure of two schools in Kiryat Ata. The permits for operating the plants are expected to expire at the end of the month, and the possibility of ceasing their operations is on the table. In the summons letter, the municipality details a series of environmental violations, including repeated benzene emission exceedances between 2020 and 2024, violations of emission permits, and deficiencies in handling hazardous materials. It was also noted that on October 14, the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued an administrative order against the Gadiv plant following the recent pollution incident. Mayor Yona Yahav said, "The days of lawlessness in Haifa Bay are over" and that residents' health takes precedence over any economic interest. Representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the Haifa Bay Cities Association were also invited to the hearing.