The true extent of Iranian missile strikes on the Bazan refinery complex in Israel's Haifa Bay has come to light through a leaked Interior Ministry document. According to the document, the damage is far more extensive than what authorities had previously acknowledged.
The document, reported by Quds News Network, recorded damage to gas turbines, steam boilers, electrical rooms, and auxiliary systems that had not been previously disclosed to the public. It also stated that a petroleum derivatives storage tank hit in the strike was rendered completely unusable and must be replaced with a new 12,700 cubic meter capacity tank.
The June attack severely damaged the refinery's power plant, disrupted operations, and caused the deaths of three workers. At the time, Bazan officials estimated losses at $150-200 million, while Israeli officials argued that fuel supplies would not be affected.
However, the leaked document revealed that the destruction of the storage tank "directly impacted the ability to produce gasoline meeting market specifications and to supply it to consumers." This statement contradicts the remarks of then-Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who said "the attacks did not damage production facilities and will not affect fuel supplies."
The document also stated that the area approved for reconstruction was nearly double the area permitted after the June attack, indicating that the scale of the destruction was far greater than previously acknowledged.
According to the Interior Ministry document reported by QNN, the complete restoration of the Bazan complex is not expected before 2028. That date comes only three years before the Israeli cabinet's 2031 plan to evacuate petrochemical industries from Haifa Bay.
The document concluded that the damage affected "core operational and storage components at one of Israel's most crucial energy facilities," necessitating a multi-year reconstruction process to sustain production and fuel supply.
