Can Israel’s Energy Infrastructure Survive a Missile Strike?
Could a Hezbollah or Iranian missile strike plunge Israel into darkness?
Israel is on high alert, anticipating a retaliatory strike from Hezbollah following the assassination of senior commander Fuad Shukr and from Iran following the assassination of Hamas’s Ismail Haniyeh. Experts warn that these attacks could be severe and unexpected, aiming to demonstrate the terror group and rogue state’s ability to disrupt daily life in Israel.
There is some speculation that missiles might target a critical piece of Israel’s infrastructure, or worse, the Leviathan gas rig, situated just 10 kilometers off the northern coast. A direct hit on the rig could have catastrophic consequences for daily life and the environment.
If they cripple our major energy infrastructure, lives could be lost at hospitals whose backup generators run out of fuel. Water won’t come out of our pipes, and much of our economy would shut down. Nothing is holding them back.
“If they cripple our major energy infrastructure, lives could be lost at hospitals whose backup generators run out of fuel. Water won’t come out of our pipes, and much of our economy would shut down,” said American Israeli environmentalist Yosef Abramowitz. “Nothing is holding them back.”
Abramowitz has long warned of this threat, but it wasn’t until Hezbollah’s first rocket on October 8 and the ongoing war that his words became such a harsh reality. Despite Hezbollah’s decades-long presence on Israel’s border, the country had not faced regular attacks from the group for 17 years. However, as Ariel Frisch, deputy head of security in Kiryat Shmona, told The Media Line, Hezbollah now possesses new, more targeted, and powerful weapons capable of inflicting damage that Israel could hardly have imagined during the brief, three-week Second Lebanon War that ended in 2006.
Abramowitz said the government’s policies have not shown sufficient awareness of this threat.
However, the Energy and Infrastructure Ministry said otherwise. The ministry’s director-general, Yossi Dayan, said his office is working in close cooperation with Israel’s security apparatus on land, in the air and sea to protect Israel’s essential infrastructure facilities.
This is despite the Leviathan’s proximity to Zikhron Yaakov, making it an easy target for the terror organization. Abramowitz pointed out that Leviathan is among the closest gas rigs to a populated area in the Western world, and its location was chosen to save the operating company, Chevron, money.
“This was a strategic mistake that could cost us dearly,” he warned.
The ministry ensured The Media Line that these systems, in addition to protection, would also have energy backup in various ways.
If the rigs become inoperable, alternative fuels like diesel or coal could be used, but this would push Israel back towards relying on dirty energy sources.
Environmental Devastation
Maya Jacobs, co-founder and CEO of Climate Net, emphasized that the impact of such an attack isn’t just about the immediate threat to Israeli lives but also the long-term damage it could inflict on the environment.
She highlighted two types of petrochemical infrastructure that are particularly vulnerable. The first is the rigs, which she believes, like Abramowitz, are constant targets for terrorist organizations in both the North and South. Jacobs noted that, as the ministry described, the country is investing billions of shekels to protect these rigs. However, she questioned the value of this investment.
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At the end of the day, we are paying to protect assets that belong to a private company. Yes, the gas serves Israel, but it doesn’t generate enough revenue for taxpayers to justify the cost of protecting it.
“At the end of the day, we are paying to protect assets that belong to a private company,” Jacobs said. “Yes, the gas serves Israel, but it doesn’t generate enough revenue for taxpayers to justify the cost of protecting it.”
Jacobs explained that the second challenge is the petroleum pipeline from Eilat to Ashkelon, operated by the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company. Despite environmental risks, Israel plans to allow more oil tankers to dock at a Red Sea port in Eilat as it strives to maintain energy security during the war. However, Jacobs warned that allowing four to five oil tankers a month—10 times the number of oil tankers compared to today—each carrying 30,000 tons of crude oil, to sit off the coast with missiles flying overhead “dramatically increases the odds against us.”
This amounts to tens of millions of tons of oil annually.
Something horrible could happen. If an oil spill of 30,000 tons occurred, it would shut down the desalination plants in the area that produce fresh water. Who will clean the sea?
Jacobs told The Media Line, “Something horrible could happen. If an oil spill of 30,000 tons occurred, it would shut down the desalination plants in the area that produce fresh water” while the sea or seas are cleaned. She said Israel currently has minimal support to clean up oil spills.
“Who will clean the sea?” Jacobs asked.
Moreover, the impact on marine wildlife could be devastating. The Mediterranean is home to two types of dolphins and marine turtles, along with many other species of sea life already on the verge of extinction.
“Is it not enough that all our forests are burning in the North and South? Now we risk destroying our seas with oil,” Jacobs said.
She explained that condensate, produced alongside the natural gas at the rigs, could pose a significant threat if a missile hits. Half of it would evaporate, causing air pollution, while the other half would pollute the sea. Unlike regular oil, which floats on the surface and can be cleaned more easily, condensate would be almost impossible to remove. It would devastate the surrounding sea and beaches, Jacobs said.
Time for Solar?
What about Israel’s power plants, which generate the country’s electricity? These facilities are dispersed across the nation.
Dayan noted that damaging one or two power plants would not significantly disrupt the ministry’s ability to provide electricity. He explained that the electric company has generators and strategies to handle the temporary shutdown of plants.
Like the gas rigs, the army protects the power plants. Although Dayan did not elaborate on the specifics or extent of this protection, he assured, “We have active protection in place.”
On the other hand, transitioning to solar energy could ensure a more reliable energy supply in case of attacks. Israel has long aimed to achieve around 40% solar energy and has set a goal to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2015 levels, with a target of net zero emissions by 2050. However, the country is significantly behind on these goals and has not made substantial progress.
The climate law passed its first reading in April 2024 and is expected to advance after the Knesset resumes in the fall. Critics argue that, in its current form, the bill could enable the government to continue harmful practices and exacerbate the climate crisis. Environmental experts warn that numerous loopholes might prevent the government from meeting its obligations due to national security concerns, such as the ongoing war.
Despite these challenges, Dayan emphasized his ministry’s commitment to transitioning to solar energy.
If we are talking about solar or other alternative energies, these options undoubtedly offer greater protection and safety. Solar energy doesn’t require gas or other resources to operate, and it provides substantial benefits not only in emergencies but also in routine situations.
“If we are talking about solar or other alternative energies, these options undoubtedly offer greater protection and safety,” Dayan said. “Solar energy doesn’t require gas or other resources to operate, and it provides substantial benefits not only in emergencies but also in routine situations.”
Since October 7, the focus on solar energy has intensified, with the Energy Ministry working to expedite these plans. However, Dayan acknowledged that regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles remain.
“We are prioritizing this effort,” he said.
Last week, the Energy Ministry implemented new regulations requiring the installation of solar energy systems on new nonresidential buildings and detached residential homes. This initiative is expected to result in tens of thousands of new renewable energy facilities, with a total installed capacity of up to 3.5 gigawatts by 2040.
These regulations, approved by Israel’s National Planning and Building Council, apply to new nonresidential structures and detached houses with roof areas of at least 250 and 100 square meters, respectively. Each solar system must have a minimum capacity of 5 kilowatts. The new rule aims to reduce residents’ costs, ensure electricity availability during emergencies, enhance Israel’s energy independence, and decrease air pollution.
While Dayan did not provide exact figures on the number of new solar installations since October 7, he confirmed that the ministry had approved many since the attack.
Additionally, the Environmental Protection and Energy Ministry’s Green South plan, with a budget of several hundred million shekels, aims to sustainably rebuild and rehabilitate the Negev region following the October 7 attack. A significant component of this plan involves leveraging solar energy. The Environmental Protection Ministry shared earlier this year that the ministry has allocated an initial budget of NIS 84 million ($23 million) and is working to secure the remaining funds. Some aspects of the project have already begun, though progress has been limited.
Since the start of the war, the Energy Ministry has been preparing to ensure a stable supply of gas and electricity in Israel. According to IDF predictions, we are ready.
“Since the start of the war, the Energy Ministry has been preparing to ensure a stable supply of gas and electricity in Israel,” Dayan said. “According to IDF predictions, we are ready.”
