PHOTOS: Construction Of Jerusalem Natural Gas Pipeline Is Completed After 5 Years

The natural gas line to Jerusalem was inaugurated Tuesday, March 19, 2019 in the Ein Kerem area, with the participation of Energy Minister Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon and the Israel Natural Gas Lines Company (NATGZ). The construction of the 34km (21 miles) and 18-inch line began in June 2013 and was completed in October 2018 at a total cost of NIS 290 million.

The construction of the Jerusalem line was conducted in two sections: the first part (Jerusalem West), 17km long, completed in 2014, and starts from the Yesodot limestone station adjacent to Highway 6 near the Sorek interchange and the Mesilas Tzion station near Shaar HaGai. The second part (East Jerusalem) is also 17km (10.5 miles) long, starts at the Mesilas Tzion station and ends at the Beit Zayit depot. The implementation of the second part began at the beginning of January 2017 and ended in October 2018. The construction of two PRMS facilities (pressure reduction and measurement) is now completed at the end of the line, one carried out at the Mesilas Tzion railway station and the other at Beit Zayit. The two reduction facilities are intended to serve Rotem Distribution Company.

Minister of Energy, Dr. Yuval Steinitz: “I am proud to inaugurate the natural gas pipeline, which will bring natural gas to Jerusalem and its surroundings for the first time. That way we will reach more consumers, so we will connect more factories, so the costs will decrease and so we can all breathe cleaner air. We are in the midst of the natural gas revolution in Israel, and we will all benefit from it.”

“It is hard to believe that only a little over 70 years ago we liberated Jerusalem, so they took care of the water and were afraid of ‘how will they bring the water to Jerusalem?

“It already belongs to history, but today we are repeating the steps of the state’s founders and connecting Jerusalem to natural gas. I am proud to be a part of this history and know that all of us together will continue to develop Jerusalem always.”