Dead Sea Works

The Dead Sea Works (, Mif'alei Yam HaMelakh) is an Israeli potash plant in Sdom, on the Dead Sea coast of Israel.

History
The company was established in 1930 by Moshe Novomeysky. It was known then as the Palestine Potash Company. From 1936, it was a profitable enterprise despite attempts by the German potash cartel to strangle the business by dumping potash at below-cost prices.

In the Israel War of Independence in 1948, the northern half of the production facilities was occupied by the Jordanian Legion, which was destroyed in the ensuing fighting.

In 1951, the company was nationalized by the Israeli government under the Ministry of Development. In 1953, it was renamed the Dead Sea Works.

Today

Dead Sea Works is the world's fourth-largest producer and supplier of potash products. The company also produces magnesium chloride, industrial salts, de-icers, bath salts, table salt, and raw materials for the cosmetic industry. It has customers in over 60 countries. Dead Sea Works is part of the Fertilizers Division of Israel Chemicals Ltd. It is located in the southern basin of the Dead Sea and the extracted chemicals are exported around the world.

Rather than extracting potash and other minerals from the Dead Sea by mining them directly, the company makes use of solar evaporation with 2-meter deep evaporation ponds.

Controversy
Dead Sea Works has been blamed by conservationists for polluting the environment and contributing to the Dead Sea's evaporation.

See also
Arab Potash
Economy of Israel
Ahava

References

External links

Company website
19th century boat of British explorer displayed at Dead Sea Works
"Wealth from the Dead Sea" Popular Mechanics, November 1930, pp 794-798

Category:Chemical companies of Israel
Category:Dead Sea
Category:Economy of Israel
Category:Potash