Israeli pipeline seeks exemptions customary environmental regulations

Israel’s National Infrastructure Committee would like to exempt the Europe Asia Pipeline Company, Ashkelon Pipeline, from carrying out the usual environmental impact survey of its installation in Ashkelon. The company operates two oil ports and two oil terminals with a storage capacity of 3.7 million cubic metres for crude oil and petroleum products. 

The Association of Cities for the Environment called on the committee to require an environmental survey and noted that it was necessary considering the number of environmental concerns over the pipeline in recent years. 

Association’s director, Meital Amitay, said: “The Europe Asia Pipeline Company had never been required to prepare an environmental impact survey of their activities. It is therefore insufficient.”

The Europe Asia Pipeline Company said: “These are baseless claims. There has been no change in the company’s activities, and it maintains its installations on a regular basis at a very high level.

“The company was originally formed in 1968 as a 50/50 percent joint venture between Israel and Iran to transport crude oil from Iran to Europe. After the Iranian Revolution 1979, Israel nationalised the company. In 2015, a Swiss court ordered Israel to pay Iran $1.1 billion compensation, which they refused to do, arguing that this was prohibited by its Trading with the Enemy Act.”

For more information visit www.eapc.com

21st June 2021