Environmental Minister Clashes With Government Over New Power Plants

Israel's government is set to convene for its weekly meeting, which will begin with a commemoration of the October 7th events and a security briefing. The ministers are scheduled to discuss two proposals for the advancement of large natural gas-powered electricity generation plants, one in Ashdod and another in Palmachim. Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman opposes both proposals, aligning with her ministry's professional staff's stance. However, several ministers have indicated their support for the initiatives, according to a report by Maariv.

The discussion does not involve the final approval for the construction of these plants at this stage. Instead, it concerns authorizing the developing companies to advance their plans with the National Infrastructure Committee. This authorization would allow the companies to prepare national infrastructure plans for submission, though the documents emphasize this does not commit to future approval. The authorization also does not constitute a license or permit for construction.

One proposal involves "Ashdod Refinery Ltd." seeking authorization to advance a power plant with a capacity of at least 630 megawatts in the western part of the Ashdod refinery complex. The Ministry of Environmental Protection opposes this, citing significant existing environmental burdens in the northern industrial zone. This area already hosts the refinery, four power plants totaling nearly 2,000 megawatts, industrial and chemical plants, seaports, and fuel depots. Emission registry data for 2024 indicates high pollution levels in the Ashdod industrial zone, ranking it highest for volatile organic compound emissions among Israeli industrial areas and second for nitrogen oxides and suspected carcinogens.

The second proposal concerns "Palmachim Park Ltd.," which aims to advance another power plant with a minimum capacity of 630 megawatts in the Palmachim industrial park. Minister Silman also opposes this request, following her ministry's professional recommendations. The Ministers of Finance, Interior, and Construction and Housing have declared their support for this proposal.

Separately, Minister Silman reportedly expressed feelings of being ostracized by Likud members and Prime Minister Netanyahu's office following her primary election results. She claimed that few from Likud congratulated her on her son's wedding and that her calls to the Prime Minister's office go unanswered. Silman also stated she is going through a difficult period since her primary loss, feeling that her role in the political events that led to the fall of the previous government and the establishment of the current one is being forgotten. She mentioned that a meeting with Netanyahu and his wife did not provide clarity on her political future.