Israeli atmosphere minister says UAE oil deal poses ecological danger

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DUBAI — An Israeli firm’s cope with companions from the United Arab Emirates to move oil from the Gulf to Europe by means of Israel poses ecological dangers, Israel’s atmosphere minister advised Reuters on Monday whereas visiting the Expo honest in Dubai.

The Israeli authorities is assessing a request, which has outraged environmental advocates there, to extend considerably the quantity of oil moved by means of Israel.

If authorized, there could be an inflow of oil tankers crusing the Crimson Sea into the Gulf of Aqaba to dock at Eilat to dump oil to be transported by way of an overland pipeline to the Mediterranean coast.

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Environmental Safety Minister Tamar Zandberg stated the ministry had “environmental issues” and that the federal government would decide “inside weeks” on the request.

An oil spill might at all times occur, she stated, which might put Eilat’s famed coral reefs in “nice irreversible hazard.”

“My opinion is that we don’t have to extend any environmental danger,” Zandberg stated on the Israeli pavilion that homes the nation’s exhibition on the world honest showgrounds.

The deal in query was struck final 12 months between Israel’s state-owned Europe-Asia Pipeline Firm (EAPC) and MED-RED Land Bridge, which has Emirati and Israeli homeowners.

EAPC criticized the minister’s feedback as “populist” and stated it was in compliance with all pointers and rules and that it was dedicated to defending the atmosphere.

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It additionally stated a danger survey had been carried out by an organization authorized by the ministry. Particulars of the survey weren’t disclosed.

EAPC “will proceed to interact in dialog” with the ministry, it stated, however warned that “any try to undermine” the deal would “severely injury future companies” between Israeli state firms and worldwide companies.

Nationwide Holding, which owns Petromal, the Emirati proprietor of MED-RED Land Bridge, didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon the ministry’s issues.

Zandberg stated she has mentioned the ministry’s issues with the UAE’s ambassador to Israel and that each governments agree this was a industrial matter. It could not have an effect on their nascent bilateral relations that had been established final 12 months, she stated.

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The ministry stated EAPC has requested for its cap on oil tankers docking at Eilat annually to be elevated from 6 to 70. It additionally stated EAPC has up to now offered inadequate and insufficient data to display it could actually mitigate atmosphere dangers.

“Undoubtedly it would elevate the environmental danger within the Gulf (of Aqaba),” stated the atmosphere ministry’s director common, Galit Cohen. “Now the federal government ought to ask: Can we settle for the danger, what’s the profit for this, and what’s the value?” (Reporting by Alexander Cornwell in Dubai; extra reporting by Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem; Enhancing by Mark Heinrich and Dan Grebler)