Ministry Fines Noble Energy NIS 3.2m for Violating Conditions of Leviathan's Emissions Permit

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has imposed a financial sanction of NIS 3,218,950 on Noble Energy Mediterranean, which was recently acquired by Chevron, for four violations of the Leviathan gas platform's air emissions permit.

Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel: "The Chevron company will have to do its homework and learn the lessons from the blatant violations of Noble Energy. We will continue to operate on the principle of 'polluter pays' for the sake of public health and the environment."

The Leviathan rig began partial operation in December 2019, and has received a legal emission permit for all its activities. Tests conducted by members of the Ministry of Environmental Protection's Air Quality and Climate Change Department show that during the months of January and February 2020, five deviations were measured from chimney flue emissions, in the range of 120% to 180% of the maximum allowable emission conditions. A failure was also detected in the indicator (signal) to identify the integrity of the pilot flames in the torches, which constitutes a violation of the conditions of the emission permit.

Among other issues:

• Close MoEP supervision found that the flow meter - the means of control in the rig through which torch activity can be deduced - was faulty from the beginning of its commercial activity. This is contrary to Noble Energy's claims for many months that it is in order. Inadequacy of the flow meter is a serious violation.
• Noble Energy did not report a malfunction in the rig facilities that caused activation of the LP torch, contrary to what was required in the permit. HP and LP torches, as defined in the emission permit, are designed to burn hydrocarbon gas (98% efficiency). They may only be activated only during emergencies, malfunctions, or maintenance periods, and their activation must immediately be reported to the MoEP.

After examining all the company's claims in the matter, Air Quality and Climate Change Department Director Dr. Tzur Galin decided to fine Noble Energy NIS 3.2 million. Last month, the MoEP's National Marine Environmental Protection Unit fined Noble more than NIS 3.7 million for violating the conditions of Leviathan's permit to discharge materials into the sea.

The MoEP considers permit violations to be serious, and notes that full transparency and compliance are expected from Noble Energy, with regards to its emission permit, in accordance with the Clean Air Law.