The Ministry of National Infrastructures is expected to approve the construction of two power stations using water driven turbines in the Upper Galilee. One of the stations will be sited at Kibbutz Misgav Am and will have a 20 MW capacity while the other will be sited at Kibbutz Manara and will have a 200 MW capacity.
The electricity will be produced by way of an accumulated storage method, for which two water pools will be built at differing heights. Water will be pumped into the upper pool overnight and then released in into the lower pool during daytime. The downward water current will drive the power station’s turbine.
The Ministry of Infrastructures needs to finds immediate solutions that will boost Israel’s electricity reserves. Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) currently has a maximum generating capacity of 10,700 MW, while maximum demand this year reached 9,500 megawatts.
In a separate development, the Ministry of Infrastructures has asked the Ministry of Finance not to halve the budget for earthquake contingency measures. The Ministry has asked Minister of Finance Abraham Hirchson to allocate a $10 billion budget over 20 years.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on September 13, 2006
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2006