Middle East Economic Survey

VOL. XLIX

No 4

23-January-2006

ISRAEL

Tender To Privatize Ashdod Refinery Provokes Strike

Israel on 12 January launched the tender to privatize the 90,000 b/d Ashdod refinery, one of two plants owned by majority state-owned Israel Oil Refineries (IOR). The staged privatization plan provoked a strike by refinery workers forcing the closure of the plant and prompting fears of fuel shortages. The strike was suspended on 16 January but may be reinstated pending negotiations...