Work begins on new generators

The new generators will run on natural gas and will produce some 750 megawatts of electricity.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
The Israel Electric Corporation has begun work on two new generating facilities that will run on natural gas and will produce some 750 megawatts of electricity, reports the Hebrew weekly Yediot Haifa. The work, which is being done in conjunction with the Ministry for National Infrastructure, is aimed at raising the Haifa power station's generating capacity significantly without harming air quality in the area. According to the report, the two new generators are part of the corporation's overall plan for increasing capacity by some 2,578 megawatts by the end of 2011. The corporation currently produces 10,899 megawatts, and at peak periods of use has come close to exceeding its capacity. A corporation manager said the new generators would reduce the current risk of depleting the country's electricity reserves. Meanwhile, the corporation has also taken steps to become more environmentally friendly by introducing an electronic-goods recycling program for its employees. Almost 10,000 permanent employees and more than 2,000 temporary ones will be able to dispose of unwanted personal computers, television sets, mobile telephones and other electric and electronic devices in special containers at the company's premises, from where they will be collected and recycled.