Even though the production of electricity from coal is the most outdated, polluting and harmful to the environment, both for air pollution and morbidity from it and for the climate crisis, and even though it is only getting more expensive and has become a major factor in the increase in electricity prices, in Israel still 20% of electricity production is from coal. The four central units that produce electricity from coal at the Orot Rabin power station in Hadera were supposed to be closed last June, about six months ago. But last March the electric company announced that it would not meet the target until at least 2023.
The Electric Company is now postponing the target to the end of 2025, but according to the company’s announcement from yesterday (Wednesday), it can be assumed that under its new CEO, Meir Spiegler, this is a commitment that will be implemented. The company emphasizes that the deadline was postponed mainly due to the effects of the Corona epidemic and the Russia-Ukraine war Along with a legal proceeding that delayed the receipt of the permit to lay natural gas pipelines and inconsistencies in the equipment that came from the suppliers.
The news in the company’s announcement is that the work to convert the “Rotenberg” power station in Ashkelon from coal to natural gas is already underway, even though natural gas is a polluting factor in itself that greatly contributes to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, but it is infinitely better than coal.” This is a first of its kind conversion that also requires a change With the working methods that have so far been adapted to the coal era,” the company says and adds: “The company is doing everything possible so that the unit will be converted to gas already this year and the company’s board of directors has decided to approve the conversion of the rest of the units from coal until the end of 2025, when until then the coal units will remain in its room as a backup in case of emergency.”