Peretz: Relocating Haifa ammonia tank top priority

Ammonia production tank vital for "new era of Israeli gas" to be moved to South for security, utility.

By SHARON UDASIN
Haifa Chemicals_311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Haifa Chemicals_311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz deemed the relocation of the enormous Haifa Chemicals ammonia tanker to the desert in the South a top priority in his administration, during a tour of the Haifa Bay region on Thursday.
“When I was defense minister during the Second Lebanon War, major discussions were held about the question of handling the container,” Peretz said. “I think that the fact that this week we entered a new era of Israeli gas requires the state to take on a number of major operations, one of which is to start building a facility for the production of ammonia, so that the new site will be closer to more factories that utilize ammonia.”
In addition, he noted, the relocation of the ammonia tank to the South, away from any population centers, will reduce air pollution significantly due to the decrease in trucks carrying the substance.
“There is no doubt that from our perspective, this will be one of the main tasks of the Environmental Protection Ministry,” Peretz said.
The government made a decision on March 1, 2012 to evacuate the ammonia facility – which would pose a great danger to the region should a rocket attack occur – to a southern location. Work at the Haifa site must cease by the beginning of 2017.
Peretz stressed that he was satisfied with Haifa Chemicals’ willingness to participate in the container transport, and said he saw a great partner in the firm.