The Reading power station in north Tel Aviv switched to natural gas today. The power station will initially produce 214 megawatts of electricity by natural gas. It is the Israel Electric Corporation’s (IEC) second power station to operate with natural gas, after the Eshkol power station switched 18 months ago. 16% of IEC’s electricity is now produced by natural gas.
IEC chairman Shlomo Rothman said IEC’s goal was to produce half its electricity by natural gas and half by coal.
Yam Thetis provides the natural gas for the Reading power station. IEC signed a 10-year purchase contact with the company in 2002.
The Reading power station was built in 1936, and currently generates 450 MW, 4% of Israel’s electricity production.
The changeover to natural gas at the Reading power station was delayed because of a prolonged dispute between IEC and Israel Natural Gas Lines Company Ltd. on the proper functioning of the undersea natural gas pipeline the IEC built from Ashkelon to the power station.
The power station is named after Lord Reading, IEC’s first chairman. It initially produced 24 MW, amounting to 30% of the British Mandate’s electricity consumption.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on July 3, 2006
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