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Israel Approves New Power Plant in Ashdod Despite Environmental Concerns
On Tuesday, 6 October 2026, the Israeli government approved a preliminary plan to advance the construction of a new 800-megawatt natural gas power plant at the Ashdod Oil Refineries complex. The proposal, initiated by Energy Minister Eli Cohen, will allow the refinery to replace its current 109-megawatt facility with a much larger station designed to feed electricity directly into the national grid.
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What happened
- 01The Israeli government approved a preliminary plan on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, for a new 800-megawatt natural gas power plant in Ashdod.
- 02The proposed facility at the Ashdod Oil Refineries complex is intended to supply electricity directly to the national grid.
- 03The Ministry of Environmental Protection strongly opposed the plan, citing existing high pollution levels in the northern industrial zone.
- 04According to 2024 emissions data, the Ashdod industrial zone is Israel's top emitter of volatile organic compounds.
- 05Health Ministry reports from 2017 to 2022 showed higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses in communities near the industrial zone.
- 06The Ashdod-Hevel Yavne Union of Cities noted the region already generates 14% of Israel's electricity despite having only 4% of the population.
- 07The Ministry of Energy stated that the decision is an initial planning step and all environmental issues will be addressed.
The decision was made despite strong opposition from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, environmental groups, and local authorities. Opponents pointed out that the northern industrial zone of Ashdod is already a major pollution hotspot, ranking as Israel's top emitter of volatile organic compounds and second highest for nitrogen oxides and suspected carcinogens. Health Ministry reports from 2017 to 2022 also indicated elevated rates of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses in nearby communities.
Local authorities, including the Ashdod-Hevel Yavne Union of Cities for Environmental Quality, argued that the region already produces 14% of Israel's electricity while housing only 4% of its population. The Ministry of Energy emphasized that this approval is for initial planning rather than immediate construction, and that all environmental aspects will be thoroughly reviewed by the National Infrastructure Committee as electricity demand rises.
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