Haifa Mayor Calls for Oil Refineries' Closure Following Air Pollution Incident
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav is demanding the closure of the Bazan oil refineries by 2029 after an air pollution incident caused abnormal benzene levels. This led to the closure of two schools in Kiryat Ata, with students moved to temporary sites. Authorities have halted refinery maintenance work and are requiring a plan to prevent future pollution before it can resume.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav called for the closure of the Bazan oil refineries by 2029 due to air pollution.
- High benzene levels forced the closure of two schools in Kiryat Ata, moving classes to alternative sites.
- Health and environmental ministries detected abnormal benzene concentrations near the Bazan complex.
- Maintenance work at the refinery was halted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
- Residents near the complex were advised to limit outdoor activities, especially children and pregnant women.
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav has called for the immediate closure of the Haifa oil refineries, known as Bazan, by 2029, following a significant air pollution event. The incident led to the closure of two schools in the nearby city of Kiryat Ata, with classes moved to alternative locations due to abnormally high benzene levels. Yahav stated that closing schools because of such pollution is a "true alarm bell," emphasizing that the health of Haifa and Kiryat Ata residents is not negotiable.
The decision to suspend classes at the social high school and Erezim elementary school came after the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health detected elevated benzene concentrations near the Bazan complex. Residents within a kilometer of the complex, particularly children and pregnant women, were advised to limit outdoor activities. The Kiryat Ata municipality demanded an immediate halt to maintenance work at the refinery, a demand echoed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
The Ministry also required Bazan's management to present a detailed plan for ongoing maintenance and preventative measures against future benzene level violations before resuming work. Environmental Protection Ministry data indicates that abnormal benzene levels were measured in recent days near the D'shenim industrial zone in Kiryat Ata, attributed to maintenance and damage repair work at the oil refineries conducted after the recent war. The ministry stated it will continue to monitor the situation and reassess it based on developments.
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