Biodiversity

ICL is careful to consider environmental factors when using land for its operations, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas or areas with unique cultural value. It is committed to land reclamation during and following its mining activities, as well as to enhancing biodiversity conservation through assessments, research and development and reclamation of mining sites after conclusion of mining activities. ICL’s environmental management guidelines include measures intended to conserve nature and protect biodiversity. \

Site specific biodiversity initiatives include (see further details in the sites sections, linked below):

ICL Dead Sea works with various stakeholders on land reclamation and restoration of natural resources, such as the salt marshland, in its concession areas. ICL Dead Sea has implemented light pollution reduction projects and is involved in a program for reducing invasive species in the Dead Sea region. As part of its new infrastructure needs, ICL Dead Sea has incorporated various mitigating solutions to reduce the environmental impact of its activities.
ICL Rotem has developed award winning, advanced mine reclamation methods, and is engaged in academic studies regarding ecological reclamation and biodiversity in reclaimed areas.

ICL Boulby maintains an annual biodiversity management plan and works continuously with different stakeholder groups to maintain biodiversity on its grounds.
ICL Iberia has been exploring different paths regarding management of its mines, including participating in various programs that support sustainable management in the areas around its mining sites, as well as rehabilitating a stream near its mining site.
ICL China YPH JV conducts extensive mine rehabilitation with the involvement of surrounding communities.

Key Principles in ICL’s Biodiversity Management Practices:

Prepare for all stages of ICL’s activities from planning, mining, and production, through use and end of life of the mining site.
Prepare a biodiversity survey at the planning stage for all new projects at ICL.
Use land under ICL management in a responsible manner.
Identify and implement solutions and technological means for biodiversity preservation.
Commit to preserving indigenous and endangered species.
Cooperate with stakeholders and develop local and strategic partnerships to promote biodiversity.
Allocate resources and knowledge to build organizational capacity and processes to implement biodiversity policy.
Track developments, monitor biodiversity performance and strive to develop effective benchmarks over time.

Ein Bokek Stream Restoration Project

The Ein Bokek stream (Nahal Bokek) flows to Pond 5 in the southern basin of the Dead Sea through the grounds of the Ein Bokek hotels. On average, 350-450 thousand cubic meters of water flow in the stream each year. The flow is unstable and varies from year to year, as it depends on the amount of annual rainfall.

In recent years, the stream has become saline, damaging the ecosystem in the stream channel. The salinity has risen from 500-600 mg/L to 5,000 mg/L and even higher. The source of the salinity has not been determined, although some environmental organizations and other parties claim that its source comes from the industries at Mishor Rotem, including ICL subsidiaries (ICL Rotem and ICL Periclase).

In 2007, following a court settlement, ICL agreed to undertake restoration of the Ein Bokek stream by infusing water with similar quality to the water that flowed into the stream previously. Administered in cooperation with the Nature and Parks Authority (INPA), this project includes:

Introducing high quality water to the stream for its restoration.
Disposing of the saline water in a separate pipe, leading it downstream.

Since 2015, ICL Dead Sea has been providing funding for high quality water to be pumped to the Ein Bokek stream. However, due to technical difficulties of water suppliers, water availability to this remote area was limited, up until late 2018. At that time, water availability to the region increased with a new pipe. Since late 2018 there has been an increased supply of high-quality water at a rate of 40-50 cubic meters per hour into the stream. The increased amount is sufficient to completely replace the saline water in the stream. With the higher quantity and quality of water, real change is occurring, and recent results of water quality monitoring have shown a significant improvement. This successful coordination between ICL Dead Sea, the INPA and water authorities, is a positive example of proactive cooperation between industry, government, and environmental organizations.

In 2018, a class action lawsuit was filed against ICL subsidiaries (ICL Rotem and ICL Periclase) regarding pollution of the regional groundwater aquifer and the Ein Bokek spring. In April 2022, the Be'er Sheva District Court dismissed the application due to statute of limitations and property rights and in June 2022, the plaintiffs filed an appeal to Israel’s Supreme Court against the district court’s decision. For more information, see ICL 2022 Annual Report Note 18.C.(1).F.