Israel’s Environmental Protection Ministry and Finance Ministry have issued a long-awaited tender for construction of an ammonia plant in southern Israel. The plant is designed to meet domestic needs and lead to the shutdown of a ammonia storage facility in Haifa.
Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabai predicted that within two to three months final bids would be presented by seven companies or groups that pre-qualified for the project and that a final decision would be taken within four months on the winner. Gabai predicted that the ammonia storage facility in Haifa that is owned and operated by Haifa Chemicals would be shut down at the latest by 2018. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon estimated the cost of the ammonia plant at $275 million and said the tender is on the extent of government assistance for the project. Capacity for the plant is reported at 150,000 mt/y.