The agreement just reached for Israel’s purchase of one million tons of coal a year from South Africa was the result of nearly four years of top secret negotiations between the Transvaal Coal Owners Association and the Israeli government, it was disclosed here. Israel’s Ambassador to South Africa, Itzhak Unno, said the deal would “add new dimensions to South African-Israeli trade relations. ### is also seen as a major break through in opening a new cool export market for this country.
The agreement was confirmed this week by Israel’s Minister for Infrastructure and Energy, Itzhak Modai. The formal contract will be signed shortly in Pretoria. The coal is intended for the new electric power plant now under construction at Hadera. The first shipments are not expected to reach Israel for 18 months and a decision is yet to be mode as to where the coal cargo-should be discharged for the most convenient haulage to Hadera.
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