Israel’s National Planning commission has given Israel Chemicals Ltd. the green light to proceed with mining operations at Sde Barir in the Negev. The commission rejected opposition from Israel’s Health Ministry, environmental groups and residents of the nearby town of Arad. ICL welcomed the decision.
The commission said that phosphates are a valuable natural resource for the Israeli economy in general and for employment in the Negev region in particular. The commission said in its statement on Tuesday that it heard various positions and was persuaded that phosphate mining did not represent an unacceptable health hazard in comparison with other infrastructure projects.
ICL had said that without Sde Barir the company would be forced to close its phosphate and fertilizer operations in Israel in less than ten years.