Authorities delay approval of filters at polluting power station - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Thu., August 30, 2007 Elul 16, 5767

Israel Time: 13:07 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Print Edition

Diplomacy

Defense

Arts & Leisure

Real Estate

Jewish World

National

Advertising

Magazine

Week's End

Business

Opinion

Rosner's Domain

Anglo File

Books

Sports



		Hadera's power station. (Itzik Ben-Malki)

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Last update - 08:26 30/08/2007

Authorities delay approval of filters at polluting power station

By Fadi Eyadat, Haaretz Correspondent

The installation of filters for toxic gas at Hadera's heavily polluting Orot Rabin power station still awaits approval even though the pollutants can cause malignant diseases, said the director of a local ecological association.

The facility emits some 16 tons of toxic gas, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide every hour.

An updated national master plan stipulates that gas filters must be installed in some of the power station's production units by January 2010, while in the others they must be installed by 2013.

	Advertisement

Yeruham Lakritz, the director of the Hadera Environmental Association, said the plan to install the gas filters is being delayed because the local planning and construction committee has not yet approved the scheme. The advanced technology reduces the power station's efficiency by 10 percent, which requires the Israel Electric Corporation to build an additional smokestack, he said.

Installing the filter system would prevent the release of 90 percent of the toxic gas into the air. However, the IEC said that since it published an international tender for equipment in 2000 the project was suspended.

The Environmental Protection Ministry and Hadera Environmental Association decided to improve the coal instead.

The station has an electrostatic filter that is only useful for trapping physical particles.

Lakritz said the electrostatic filter uses improved low-sulfur coal that reduces the toxic gas emission. However, large quantities of toxic materials still find their way out.

The Hadera municipality said that "building an additional smokestack will damage the landscape and may increase the pollution. The city has instructed Igud Hadera to propose alternatives to reduce toxic gas emissions without having to build another smokestack."

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Bon voyage
	The declining quality of airline service is causing 750 million travelers bitter suffering.


	Satmar silence
	No posters, crowds or even criticism greeted the Satmar Rebbe in Jerusalem.




1.	Profit is more important than people	09:57	\|	Clickfool	30/08/07

2.	"An additional homestack will damage the landscape"!	11:30	\|	Alice of Wonderland	30/08/07

Today Online


	U.S. coordinator plans 5 new Palestinian battalions in W. Bank
	Responses: 34


	Rosner: How can Jewish state reject refugees, refuse to recognize a genocide?
	Responses: 16


	Israel Harel: Action, not defense, will end the Qassam threat
	Responses: 16


	Editorial: Sarkozy closer to Israel on Iran than Chirac was
	Responses: 7


	Friedmann precludes gays from inheritance laws in revised bill
	Responses: 16

Rosner's Domain

* How can a Jewish state reject refugees?

* WTR: Unhappy with Christiane Amanpour? You're not alone

* Rosner's Mailbox: In favour of Prof. Walt's earlier thesis

* Iraq and Gaza: History in combat

More Headlines
13:07 Bar-On criticized for ousting chief accountant


09:58 U.S. coordinator plans 5 new Palestinian battalions in W. Bank


11:45 Friedmann precludes gays from inheritance laws in revised bill


10:28 Haifa man dies of critical wounds sustained during Lebanon war


09:50 In face of criticism, PR campaign to explain Israel's refugee policy


08:26 Authorities delay approval of filters at polluting power station


12:55 Sentence hearing opens for man accused of torturing woman, 68


10:58 Evacuation of Bnei Atarot held up by dispute with IAA over hotel fees


05:35 Top UN envoy: Hezbollah must provide proof IDF captives alive


06:42 Hebron Jews say Jewish property owners are discriminated against