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Essential for construction, silica sand is becoming scarce
Following the closure of one of the only two quarries supplying fine silica sand for the construction industry, the Manufacturers’ Association has warned of a serious shortage of silica sand, essential raw materials that could lead to rising apartment prices.
Contractors: “This will have an impact, but it is difficult to estimate the consequences at this time”; Speaking about the silica sand shortage. Silica sand is used as a raw material for the production of dry powders, adhesives, coatings, and other materials for the building industry.
Recently, the Commissioner at the Ministry of Energy, with the support of the Israeli Land Authority, ordered the revocation of the operating permit for a white sand factory in Mishor Rotem.
This was in violation of the provisions of the Mining Ordinance and the Construction Law.
Can we imagine running out of sand? And yet the depletion of resources is accelerating
Sand needs are estimated at about 200 tons for a house, 30,000 tons for 1 km of highway, and 12,000,000 tons for a nuclear power plant. The shortage of silica sand also poses problems in other types of industries. Sand is used in all technological industries:
- For the manufacture of our phones,
- Computers, glass,
- Paper
- And for the construction of our buildings and homes.
The list is of course not exhaustive….
Besides silica sand, regular sand is disappearing and we are not talking about it…
According to Denis Delestrac, journalist and director of the film “The Disappearance of Sand” on Arte: ‘there is still a significant amount on the planet, but given the speed at which we extract this non-renewable resource, a future shortage is not impossible. Between 75 and 90% of beaches are threatened with disappearance.
For example, did you know that in Indonesia, 25 islands have disappeared to supply Singapore with sand, which needs it for its development?
Israel, for its part, is looking for an import solution to support its significant needs primarily related to construction.
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