The Haifa District Court – in its capacity as a Court for Administrative Affairs – cancelled the District Committee decision, which refused to allow BAZAN to promote the approval of gas turbines to increase production of electricity in the BAZAN compound.

The court accepted the BAZAN standing, whereas the decision taken by the District Committee is not based on factual grounding and that there is no contradiction between the future vision of developing the Haifa Bay and approval of the plan.

In its ruling the court referred to promotion of the national outline plan for the Haifa Bay (TAMA 75) and rejected the District Committee claim that the plan is in the substantial stage of depositing and therefore the rationale of preventing plans such as the proposed plan applies.

The court determined on this matter that: “Not only has this egg not yet been hatched, the hen that is supposed to lay it has not yet been born. Planning has to ensure complete continuous functionality, from a nationwide perspective, and any action contradictory to national interests may put the energy economy and the supply of fuels to the country at risk”.

The court instructed the District Committee to provide the environmental consultant with guidelines for reviewing the environmental impact, and charged the District Committee with legal fees.

BAZAN was represented by Adv. Yacov Cohen, partner and head of the Planning and Construction department, and Adv. Vardit Tel-Dvir of our firm.

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