Just days before 300,000 Israelis lost power last weekend, the government met to approve two new power plants: Kesem, next to Rosh Haayin, and the expansion of the Dorad plant near Ashkelon. These are two of four power plant construction plans that have been submitted to the government for approval, after long delays.
According to Noga – Israel Independent System Operator Ltd. , which since November 2021 has replaced the Israel Electric Corporation in managing Israel’s electricity supply, by 2035 eight more power plants will be needed to meet Israel’s demand, and so far only five have been approved. According to forecasts, unless these power plants are built, power outages will become routine. Despite the looming crisis, Transport Minister Miri Regev, who was in Morocco at the time of the cabinet meeting, lodged an apparently reasoned objection to the plant’s construction. Power plants.
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In a letter to government ministers, she laid out her arguments against a particular power plant, which in fact was ultimately not approved by the government, namely the “Eastern” power plant, or the “Reindeer Project,” as it is known, a gas-fueled power plant proposed by before Reindeer energy. The plan is to build the plant near Routes 55 and 444 in the Sharon-Shomron area. Regev’s objection to the plan rests on transportation considerations: The plant would prevent the expansion of Route 55 “a major national bypass, important for connecting Judea and Samaria with other parts of Israel,” and connect the road to Route 444 and Route 6.
In reality, however, there is no impediment to expanding Route 55 and connecting it with Route 444. Moreover, contrary to what Regev claims, not only is there a need to connect Route 55 with Interstate 6, but the State Department of Transportation itself has expressed professional objections to doing so. , because Route 6 is a longitudinal highway not designated for regional traffic, because other nearby intersections lead to it, and for reasons of safety and efficiency.
The Reindeer project aims to provide about 1,300 megawatts at a site in the South Sharon Regional Council area. This represents more than 12% of the expected consumption in the expected peak year of 2030. In the absence of new power plants, Israel may find itself in a real energy crisis. If Regev’s professional reasons are incorrect, the question remains whether there was a political motive to her objections.
Responding to a request for comment, Bayan on behalf of Regev reiterated allegations raised at the cabinet meeting, and did not address points raised in the report.
Published by Globes, Israel business news – en.globes.co.il – on June 12, 2023.
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