The Israel Airports Authority is on its way to independence from the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC). Sources inform ''Globes'' that the Airports Authority is in advanced talks for the construction of a private power plant at Ben Gurion Airport at an estimated investment of $100 million.
The Airports Authority is expected to issue a tender for the construction of the plant, which will be natural gas-fired with a production capacity of 50-80 megawatts. It is designed to supply most of the airport's electricity needs, and any surplus power will be sold to the IEC's national grid.
Ben Gurion Airport's electricity consumption has increased significantly since the opening of the Ben Gurion 2000 terminal, and it now amounts to NIS 40-50 million a year.
The Israel Airports Authority said in response, "The matter has been discussed by the Knesset Finance Committee and the authority's board, but no decision has yet been made."
The new power plant has generated considerable interest among a number of groups in the energy industry. One of the leading candidates for the project construction is a group comprising Edeltech, and Turkish energy company Zorlu, also a shareholder in Dorad Energy, which is building an 800 megawatt power plant in Ashkelon.
Israel Airports Authority director-general Gabi Ophir said in the past that the timeline for the building of the power plant would depend on the point at which it could be connected to the gas supply.
Israel National Gas Company recently completed the construction of the main 90 kilometer section of the onshore gas pipeline. It is believed that pipeline will bring gas to the area of Ben Gurion Airport by 2009-2010.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on June 28, 2007
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2007