Israel Chemicals (TASE: ICL: NYSE: ICL) can mine industrial minerals from Sde Barir in the Negev, despite allegations of health hazards to residents of the area. The National Planning and Building Commission, headed by accountant Avigdor Yitzhaki, today approved the policy document for mining industrial minerals.
The purpose of the document is to ensure a regular supply of industrial minerals for the economy in the medium and long term, while balancing between economic needs and the need to protect the environment and the quality of life. The policy document will provide background for a National Outline Plan for mining and quarrying (14/B) that will include areas with industrial minerals, in addition to spaces zoned for raw materials for the construction and paving sector. Detailed plans for all the sites will be submitted on the basis of the outline plan.
According to the National Planning and Building Commission, the industrial minerals are a very valuable natural resource of national importance for the economy in general, and for employment in the Negev in particular. The industrial minerals involved include phosphates, shale oil, special clay, special sand, porcelanite, salt, and copper.
Phosphate is the main raw material in terms of mining volume and the existing and required space. The policy document recommends mining phosphates near the areas where they are currently mined (Rotem, Oron, Zin, and Hatrurim) and developing a new main site, Zohar Darom (which includes Sde Barir), which contains substantial reserves.
The National Planning and Building Commission heard the various positions, and was persuaded that phosphate mining was not an unacceptable health hazard, in comparison with other infrastructure projects, such as roads. It ruled that in the current situation, the additional mining activity met the environmental standards in the Clean Air Law, noting that the established environmental values in Israel are adapted to European standards, or are even more stringent.
Israel Chemicals said in response, " Following many years of delay, the National Planning and Building Commission's decision gives a chance for continued activity in the phosphate industry in the Negev in the coming decades. ICL undertakes that the mining at Sde Barir will conform to the Clean Air Law and all the accepted standards. The company undertakes to scrupulously and professionally monitor and follow the effect of the mining under the instruction and supervision of the authorities, and will report with full transparency and completely openly the monitoring results to the residents of the area and the general public, under the supervision and guidance of the authorities. Israel Chemicals calls on the residents of the area and their elected officials to begin jointly with the company a process of cooperation with the public, in which the residents can ensure their involvement in the processes of planning and monitoring the future mining activity."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 1, 2015
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