Plans for the expansion of Israel’s petroleum byproducts industries, involving the investment of 32,000,000 pounds ($18,000,000) were announced here today by Pinhas Sapir, Minister of Commerce and Industry. Mr. Sapir, who just completed a tour of several chemical plants in the Haifa Bay area, said that the program included the expansion of existing industries and the establishment of new plants.
The chemical industries utilizing the byproducts of the Haifa Refineries are already among the most important in the Haifa area. Production in this field is expected to increase considerably now that the 16-inch pipeline from Eilat to Haifa has been completed, Mr. Sapir declared.
The pipeline is already able to carry 1,300,000 tons of petroleum annually–slightly more than the amount needed for the country’s domestic consumption. Additional pumping stations, however, will enable the pipeline to transport 2,000,000 tons annually, facilitating the renewal of the export of refined products which were discontinued when Iraq cut off the flow of oil to the refineries in 1948. The expanded operation of the refineries will thus increase the quantities of raw materials for the chemical industries.
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