Refinery malfunction: Big flame in ethylene torch

Burning torch in Haifa Bay (Photo: Yinon Wardi)

The torch from the refineries once again illuminated the Bay of Haifa and this time exceptionally: Following a malfunction of the ethylene facility, during which turbine and compressor work was discontinued at the facility, there is an intense torch activity expected to take several hours. Mabazan reported that as part of the fault operation, the excess gas was safely diverted to the torch. Large firefighters were called to the scene, but returned to the stations shortly after.

Photo: From the Facebook page – Carmelia residents

Great flame in Haifa refineries(Photo: Moran Yona)

The burning torch in Haifa Bay(Photo: Carmel Rescue Union)

Great flame in Haifa refineries(Photo: Gal Sagi)

(Photo: Gal Sagi)

The torch fire was seen from all over Haifa Bay, Nesher and the Western Galilee. Frightened residents alerted the fire department, complaining they had not received answers from the Ministry of the Environment.

Haifa Mayor Einat Kalish Rotem issued a strong statement: “This is not an image from an apocalyptic movie. This is the reality we live in – the residents of Haifa Bay. Angry phones from the government, claiming that my attitude is too harsh. No he is not. I have not started being tough yet. Zero tolerance. Zero tolerance has already run out of patience. ”

The Ministry of the Environment said: “Following a malfunction that occurred in the factory as a publisher of the Bazan group, gases were diverted to a torch, designed to handle such events. The staff of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, headed by Haifa District Manager Shlomo Katz, is present and conducting inspections. A national air monitoring system deployed in the Gulf of Haifa, also near the ORL compound, measures the concentrations of pollutants in the air in real time, and up to this time no deviation from the standards has been measured. ”

The burning torch in Bazan(Photo: Ministry of Environmental Protection)

The Ministry of the Environment also said: “The real-time monitoring station data can be viewed in the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s ‘Air in Environment’ app. According to reports from a factory in the United Kingdom, it is the ethylene gas emissions that burn in the torch. In the next few hours, the torch flame is expected to be seen across the bay, and the gas flow will gradually decrease. Keep in mind that burning the gas in a torch is the effective means of reducing air pollution in the event of a malfunction. ”

The Haifa Bay Environment Association said: “This is a second fault within a week. The data from the union’s collection indicate that the chimney was transferred more than twice the amount of gas required to report in the event of an incident. The union drives monitor the gas streams to torch and monitor the union’s cameras to detect smoke emissions. Bazan will be required to submit an investigation into the incident to the Association of Cities. Against the backdrop of this week’s breakdowns and unusual torch flows, the union’s chairman, Sarit Golan, spoke with Haifa Mayor and Nesher Mayor to cooperate in taking administrative and legal proceedings. As a company, including the possibility of losing The facilities and activities. ”

Dr Revital Goldsmith from the Haifa Environmental Research Center said: “This is the second time this week that there has been a malfunction of the ethylene facility in Bazan. The compressor malfunctioned and the compressor malfunction again. Haifa residents again go to bed with great concern. The torch is a safety device for burning excess, but in the case of a huge torch – not all of the hazardous materials are burned efficiently and Haifa residents have become chronic respirators of ethylene. We require the Ministry of the Environment to close the facility and not allow damage to air quality and the safety of the metropolitan residents. ”

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