Rising Tensions in Haifa After Iranian Missile Strike on Bazan Refinery
WANA (Jul 13) – Following Iran’s missile attack on the Bazan oil complex in the Haifa Bay—which completely shut down its refinery operations—a wave of concern has spread among local residents and environmental activists.
The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that since the attack, which killed three workers and forced a full halt to the refinery’s operations, serious debates and disagreements have erupted across political, industrial, and environmental circles in the occupied territories.
According to the report, environmental activists and some Haifa residents have warned that leaks of hazardous chemicals from the damaged facility could worsen pollution in an area already facing environmental challenges. In contrast, Bazan’s management and several Israeli industrial figures have stressed the need to keep the refinery operational during wartime. They argue that maintaining an active refinery in Haifa is vital for sustaining the energy supply chain, since importing and storing refined petroleum products could pose even greater risks under crisis conditions.
Damage to Haifa and its gas refinery caused by Iranian missiles / WANA News Agency
Yedioth also highlighted rising tensions among Israeli stakeholders over a proposed plan to build a new power plant within the Bazan complex—an initiative that, if approved and implemented, could entrench the site’s industrial presence for decades to come.
Critics of the plan argue that safer, temporary alternatives such as mobile power units or energy storage systems should be used instead. However, Bazan has rejected these substitutes.
During the recent 12-day war, Israel’s Oil Refineries organization issued a statement confirming that some pipelines and oil facilities in Haifa had been hit and damaged by Iranian missile strikes. Bazan itself—one of the largest oil companies in Israel—also announced that its facilities in Haifa Bay had suffered significant damage as a result of the attacks.
