Benny Dreyfus Appointed Chairman of Government-Owned Infrastructure Company Shte'a

After nine months without a permanent leader, Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich appointed Benny Dreyfus as chairman of the government-owned company Shte'a (Eilat Ashkelon Infrastructure Services) on Monday. Dreyfus, who resigned yesterday as CEO of Mifal HaPais after six and a half years, will begin his new role in early September. He replaces Michal Abadi, who was appointed Accountant General at the Finance Ministry earlier this year.

Dreyfus, a lawyer by training, previously served as CEO of the Ministry of Construction and Housing. His main responsibility at Shte'a will be overseeing the Dorad power station, where the state holds a 37.5% stake through Shte'a, making it the largest shareholder. Shte'a also owns the land on which the Dorad power station operates and where the planned Dorad 2 station is to be built.

In May, Shte'a surprised the energy sector by demanding 120 million shekels annually in rent from Dorad for leasing 75 dunams of land. This demand casts doubt on the financial viability of constructing Dorad 2. Previously, Dorad paid only 3.7 million shekels per year in rent, and negotiations are currently underway between Dorad and Shte'a regarding the rent increase.