The plant will operate on natural gas and be environmentally friendly; it will supply energy to facilities at Ben Gurion Airport and its vicinity; The first step: in its 2006 development budget, the Authority Council approved the preparation of a detailed plan for the construction of a low-pressure gas pipe system feeding the Ben Gurion Airport energy center

The Airports Authority is promoting a B.O.T. initiative for building a power plant fueled by natural gas, that will generate electricity for Ben Gurion Airport and its vicinity. Towards the end of 2006, the Authority will issue a tender for the design, construction and operation of a power plant with a capacity of approximately 80 MW. Work at the power plant, including laying a national gas pipeline and connecting it to the plant, is expected to take place during 2009.

The Authority will allocate the required area of about 2.5 acres for the construction of the power plant, including a place for transformers and electrical panels, at a location designated for engineering facilities, adjacent to the wastewater treatment installation. The tender competition will focus on the percentage of discount compared to current electricity rates, as well as payment for leasing the land.

As a first step towards the transition to using natural gas, the Authority Council, in its last meeting, approved as part of the 2006 development budget, the preparation of a detailed plan for the construction of a low-pressure gas pipe system feeding the Ben Gurion Airport energy center.

The Authority will invest 12.4 million NIS in advancing this initiative, which will include laying gas  piping on Ben Gurion Airport grounds, connection to the main national gas pipeline, construction of distribution stations, connection of the energy center itself, and more.

Gabi Ofir, Director General of the Israel Airports Authority, stated that “The Airports Authority, which is responsible for national infrastructure facilities, is one of the largest consumers of electrical power in the Israeli economy, with consumption growing annually, especially since the opening of Terminal 3. Recent key developments in Israel’s energy market in general natural gas market specifically, enable the Authority to examine both the economic feasibility and the applicability of promoting the construction of an independent power plant.”

Thus, for example, indicated Ofir, gas reserves which were discovered in Israel a few years ago opposite the Ashkelon coast, already serve the Electric Company as an alternative fuel which has significant advantages over coal, and the national gas pipeline for transporting the gas is expected to pass close to the east side of Ben Gurion Airport. Furthermore, an explicit governmental policy is being advanced for increasing the generation of electricity by private operators and using natural gas energy, due to its availability, low cost, and environmental friendliness.