The Ministry of Environmental Protection published this morning (Wednesday) the "red list" of polluting factories in Israel.
The index on which the list is based examines the environmental impact of the establishments that appear in it.
In the first, and disrespected, places of the index are the factories: Bazan, Rotem Ampert, Hashfdan, Paz Ashdod Refinery and Carmel Olefins.
The index is being published for the ninth year and provides a rating of the environmental impact of publicly and government-owned companies and enterprises.
The index provides the public with comparative and simple information on the performance and environmental risks of public companies with great environmental impact and the factories they own.
The index examines in depth the environmental risk of 49 public companies, 124 large industrial plants and about 700 gas stations, and its methodology is based on the Environmental Risk Assessment Index of the British Environmental Protection Agency.
Simultaneously with the publication of the report, the Minister of Environmental Protection, Tamar Zandberg, stated: "The environmental impact index reveals to the general public and investors in industrial companies the environmental risks inherent in them.
The index links the environmental risks to the factors responsible for them, and enables investors in companies - whether they are our pension funds, banks or the general public - to demand an investment in proper environmental management from the managers of those companies. "
The impact of BZN on the environment has increased
As mentioned, in the current index BZN was ranked as the enterprise with the highest environmental impact with an 18% increase in the score compared to 2018, meaning an 18% increase in the score from last year, is a greater environmental impact.
The Rotem Ampert plant is in second place with a slight improvement (decrease) of 3% in the last sub-score.
In 2019, the plant was set a negative score for operational violations at the plant and a delay in submitting documents and reports.
In addition, the score from 2018 is due to violations of an exception in air emissions, and from 2017 on the collapse of a wall in a pool in a factory that led to a massive spill of acidic and dangerous material into the Ashalim River.
The plant has a high score due to the amount of emissions and transfers to the environment.
The state is also in the process of a class action lawsuit against the company due to the incident of the leak to Nahal Ashalim, on behalf of the entire public, for the environmental damage.
Response
Bazan Group:
"Despite the unreliability of the index and the misleading information provided to investors, the Bazan Group considers investing in the environment to be of strategic importance, as also appears from the official data published by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
In the years 2018-2019, the Benzen Group reduced emissions by tens of percent, including a 75% reduction in benzene emissions (in one year only).
This reduction joins the group's multi-year trend, which reduced from 2009 to 2019 between 65% and 95% of major air pollutant emissions.
"Zen is currently planning long-term projects that will have a significant positive environmental impact."
The Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Environment Association of the Manufacturers' Association stated
: "Here is a partial list of bodies that significantly affect the environment, but are not included in the Ministry of Environmental Protection's inspection: public transportation companies, waste management systems in local authorities, activities in Israeli ports, military bases, etc. In the last decade, the industry has reduced the number of emissions by more than 90%, and continues to improve and prove that it is the solution and not the problem. The environment will deal with the full picture, for the benefit of the public and will begin to treat the main pollutants in the State of Israel. "
The Israel Energy and Environment Institute stated
: "The index discriminates against large companies and companies with many sites that will always be ranked in high places. "The index should have included elements of improving plant emissions over the years, a figure that would attest to their investments and achievements. Energy companies, which face the most stringent regulation in the world, invest millions of shekels each year to meet environmental demands." .
Adam, Teva and Din said
: "The Ministry of Environmental Protection does not effectively enforce polluting companies. While the Ministry of Environmental Protection states that there are significant reductions in emissions in Haifa Bay - in practice the data indicate that the largest polluter in the Gulf - the refineries, is actually rising. The government will approve and accept the general recommendations of the CEO team that worked to examine the future of the petrochemical industry in Haifa Bay, and set a mandatory deadline for evacuation of BZN as soon as possible.
Enforcement efforts need to be stepped up, including in the national plan to reduce air pollution under the Clean Air Act.
This plan was supposed to be updated by law in 2018, and it has not yet been approved or budgeted by the government to date.
A petition we filed in the matter will be heard in the Supreme Court in December. "
Maya Yaakovs, CEO of Zalul
: "The index published today is a painful reminder that in parallel with the climate crisis, we are also facing a severe environmental pollution crisis and a cause of disease.
The state must act urgently to reduce the many factors of pollution and put human and natural health at the top of the list of priorities.
Polluting industry must be managed with a strong hand, with strict supervision and enforcement and deterrent penalties for polluters, but the government does the opposite: under the auspices of the Arrangements Law, a weakening of the Business Licensing Law and robbery of local authorities and the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
"Clear" calls on the government and its leader to take care of public health not only from the corona but from the murderous environmental pollution, and to run the business licensing in a much more responsible and strict manner. "
