Starting this Morning, Natural Gas Supply Will Begin Along Northern Sea Route Towards Dor Beach
National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin (Fouad) Ben Eliezer: The supply of natural gas to Hadera - another significant step in the introduction of natural gas into Israel
This thereby completes the supply of natural gas along the sea route from Ashdod in the south to Dor Beach in the north
An important and major step in the Israeli economy's switch to natural gas, a move led by National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin (Fouad) Ben-Eliezer: This morning (Sunday), Israel Natural Gas Line began necessary activity for the supply of natural gas to the Dor Beach power station.
Today (Sunday), responsibility for the gas pipeline has been transferred from the Electric Corporation, which constructed it for the state, to Israel Natural Gas Line, which will operate it from now on.
This effectively completes the supply of natural gas along the sea route from Ashdod in the south to Dor Beach in the north.
The southern segment (Ashdod – Reading) was already launched last year by National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin (Fouad) Ben-Eliezer, and the Reading power station has since operated on natural gas, thereby saving the Israeli economy hundreds of millions of shekels a year.
Upon completion of the supply of gas along the northern sea segment, natural gas will begin to be supplied to American-Israeli Paper Mills' plants. Thus, the first industrial plant will effectively begin using natural gas. The switch to natural gas will lead to a substantial improvement in the quality of the air on one hand, and will significantly reduce the plant's manufacturing costs on the other hand.
The sea pipeline is 60 km long with a diameter of 30 inches; the land pipeline segment that conducts gas to the Hadera facility is an additional 5 km long with a diameter of 5 inches. A pressure reduction and measurement station has been set up in Hadera for transferring gas to consumers.
In the future, natural gas will also be used by the new and larger power station slated to be built on the plant's grounds.
Work is underway to complete the entire segment up to the Hagit power station, in the Elyakim area, which is also slated to switch to natural gas near the end of the year. The Israeli economy will thus save hundreds of millions of shekels more.
It is worth noting that once gas supply to the pipeline begins, it will take seven days to reach the appropriate pressure in the pipeline. Once the correct level of pressure is reached, another seven days are needed to test the pipeline's proper working order (durability, absence of leaks, etc.). During the said period, even though the gas will flow through the pipeline, consumers will not be able to use the gas.
National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin (Fouad) Ben-Eliezer: "The natural gas system project is one of the most important projects of the State of Israel in general and of the Ministry of National Infrastructures in particular. I congratulate all the parties that worked to advance the supply of natural gas, including the Electric Corporation, Israel Natural Gas Line, and the Gas Authority. The Ministry of National Infrastructures will continue to operate to expand the State of Israel's natural gas sources."
Israel Natural Gas Line CEO Dan Vardi: "I am pleased that all obstacles have been removed and that natural gas supply can now begin."
American-Israeli Paper Mills Group CEO Avi Brenner: "The American-Israeli Paper Mills Group welcomes the start of natural gas supply. The group has made a considerable investment to convert its energy system to natural gas use and is prepared to activate it immediately."
National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin (Fouad) Ben-Eliezer thanks the various government ministries, foremost the Ministry of the Interior, headed by Minister Meir Sheetrit; the Ministry of Transport, headed by Minister Shaul Mofaz; and the directors-general of their ministries for their contribution to the completion of the process.
A map is enclosed