Bazan Refinery's Gadiv Plant Shut for 17 Days Amid Benzene Emission Concerns
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
The Gadiv plant at Israel's Bazan refinery in Haifa has been shut for 17 days due to abnormal benzene emissions during maintenance, causing tens of millions of shekels in damage. This follows an earlier shutdown in October that led to school evacuations. The prolonged closure is costing Bazan millions daily, with losses estimated between 55 and 76 million shekels. The plant is expected to present a new plan to resume work soon.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Bazan's Gadiv plant shut for 17 days due to benzene emissions, costing tens of millions.
- The shutdown occurred during routine maintenance, releasing hazardous gases into the air.
- Two schools were evacuated in October due to earlier benzene concerns.
- Daily losses for Bazan are estimated between 2.3 to 3.6 million shekels.
- Bazan has faced other significant damages from missile strikes and fuel tank incidents.
- The refinery is scheduled to operate until 2030 before relocation.
The Gadiv plant, part of the Bazan refinery complex in Haifa, has been shut down for 17 consecutive days due to the emission of abnormal benzene concentrations during maintenance work. The estimated damage so far amounts to tens of millions of shekels.
The plant, responsible for Bazan's aromatic products used as raw materials for industries like chemicals, plastics, and cosmetics, was undergoing its decennial maintenance. During such periods, hazardous gases can be released when the plant's systems are opened for cleaning and repair. The current benzene contamination was described as particularly severe, leading to the shutdown.
This is not the first disruption. Earlier in October, the plant was shut for several days, and two schools in Kiryat Ata were evacuated due to fears of high benzene levels. After Bazan submitted a plan to prevent pollution, operations resumed, but on October 22, the Ministry of Environmental Protection ordered another halt, which has been in effect since.
Bazan is expected to present a new plan before resuming work, potentially by October 12, though the exact timeline for both the maintenance and subsequent operation remains unclear. The company has suffered other damages recently, including a significant incident in the "Im K'viya" system caused by an Iranian missile strike, which resulted in $150-$200 million in damages, and a less severe incident affecting a fuel storage tank in the "Sha'agat Ha'ary" system.
Financially, the shutdown is costly. Based on 2025 revenue figures for the aromatic products sector, which was $273 million, Bazan is losing approximately 2.3 million shekels daily. Using 2024 revenue of $426 million, the daily loss is around 3.6 million shekels. This brings the total loss for the 17-day shutdown, including the earlier October halt, to between 55 and 76 million shekels. The refinery is slated to operate until 2030 before its relocation to accommodate Haifa's expansion.
