Israel is about to become a producer and exporter of gas. But this requires a processing plant that will be able to liquify the gas before using it.

The gas bursts up from the ground under very high pressure, which needs to be reduced and undergo transformation into a liquid.

The Israeli gas company “Delek Energy” wants to do this on the shores of Carmel Beach. But residents in the area object to building gas plants in the vicinity.

[Danny Stern, Gas Project Protester]:
“They plan to establish a gas farm here, a plant for refining gas. The gas will be transferred from the sea where it is drilled, via this area for refinement and storage. There are lots of problems; the most severe is the risk of explosion, not only in Sedot-Yam but also in Caesarea, and all around the area. Be it Hedera or Or Akiva, the danger is real, and we are fighting against it.”

[Carmel Sela, Hof Ha’Carmel (Carmel Beach) Council Leader]:
“Gas is good for the country, the question is where it is being refined. We think it should be refined at sea, on a raft in the ocean. There are hundreds of such facilities all over the world, were gas is being refined in the ocean.”

The gas needs to be liquefied before it can be transported. The gas to liquid reduction ratio is 600 to 1.

There is a certain risk involved when attempting to reduce the gas pressure from 450 bar (unit of pressure) to 120 bar when it is being drilled out of the well.

[Gideon Tadmor, CEO, Delek Energy]:
“As far as we’re concerned, any professional decision adopted by the National Council for Planning and Construction, is acceptable. Even if they build a marine facility it will have many shortcomings, and it will be necessary to build an overland facility anyway. Nobody wants that in their backyard”.

Delek Energy is willing to negotiate with the demonstrating residents.

[Gideon Tadmor, CEO, Delek Energy]:
“I call the residents to come and negotiate instead of demonstrating, because only by negotiating can we reach a solution of establishing national infrastructures, which is critical for Israel.”

The area was declared by UNESCO as a biospherical area in 1988. Since then, all developments in the area are sustainable; the whole area is rural with no air pollution.

Eight thousand years ago, the area was the site of a Neolithic village.

Two thousand years ago, the Roman city of Caesarea was located there.

In the surrounding mountains there are prehistoric caves, dating back hundreds and thousands of years.

If all parties concerned do indeed reach a negotiated solution, it will demonstrate that reaching a solution peacefully is much better than fighting.

Reporter: Avivva Grunpeter     Photographer: Michael Ash
NTD, Israel