A.F.S.K. Hom Tov

A.F.S.K. Hom Tov was an Israeli energy-technology company based in Haifa and associated with the A.F.S.K. Industries Group. Founded in 1994 by Shimon Kazansky and Yisrael Feldman, the company focused on a process for converting oil shale into shale oil. Its activities centered on promoting a process described in United States Patent 5,372,708, originally invented in 1992 by Moshe Gvirtz, also spelled Moshe Gewertz. The method involved preparing fine oil-shale particles as a slurry with waste bitumen, then pumping the mixture through heated coils. Hom Tov promoted the process as potentially more economical and environmentally favorable than conventional oil-shale extraction techniques. Its public claims included the ability to operate at lower temperatures than classical methods because of the addition of catalyzing bitumen, and profitability at a crude-oil price of approximately US$17 per barrel. These claims were presented in the context of developing an industrial alternative to conventional shale-oil production, rather than as evidence of a commercially established production business. The company attracted outside investment during the 1990s. In 1996, Sonol, a wholly owned subsidiary of Granite Hacarmel, invested US$1.5 million in Hom Tov. A decade later, Hom Tov was the subject of reports concerning a proposed acquisition of 73% of its shares by a group led by Israeli businessman Ofer Glazer. The transaction was not completed. Around the same period, the company announced plans for a full-scale facility at Mishor Rotem in the Negev Desert, south of Beersheba. The proposed plant was intended to process oil shale on an industrial scale, with bitumen supplied from the Ashdod refinery by pipeline over a distance of roughly 80 kilometres and the resulting product returned along the same corridor. The planned expansion did not result in a sustained operating business. Following the failure to finalize the proposed share transaction, Hom Tov subsequently ceased operations and is therefore treated as a defunct company. Its history is closely connected to the broader A.F.S.K. business group: Kazansky and Feldman also owned A.F.S.K. Industries, which was sold to Orad in 2008. Later reporting stated that the former owners and Orad entered arbitration over alleged non-payment under a service agreement valued at 14 million Israeli new shekels. That dispute concerned the related A.F.S.K. business rather than establishing a continuing operating role for Hom Tov itself. Because the available public record is limited, details such as Hom Tov's final corporate structure, commercial production volumes, customer base, revenue, workforce, and the precise date of its closure cannot be established from the cited material. The company is best understood as a discontinued Israeli oil-shale technology venture whose principal public significance lies in its proposed extraction process, early investment by Sonol, and unsuccessful attempt to develop a commercial facility at Mishor Rotem.

A.F.S.K. Hom Tov was established in 1994 by Shimon Kazansky and Yisrael Feldman as a venture connected with the A.F.S.K. Industries Group in Israel. The company pursued oil-shale technology, focusing on a process for transforming oil shale into shale oil. The process promoted by Hom Tov was associated with United States Patent 5,372,708, based on work by Moshe Gvirtz, also known as Moshe Gewertz, in 1992. The promoted method used finely divided oil shale mixed into a slurry with waste bitumen. The slurry was then circulated through coils in a heater. Hom Tov and its promoters argued that the bitumen acted as a catalyst, allowing processing at somewhat lower temperatures than conventional shale-oil methods. They also claimed that the approach could be environmentally preferable and economically viable at a crude-oil price of about US$17 per barrel. The available record documents these claims but does not establish long-term commercial production or independently verified performance at industrial scale. In 1996, Sonol, then a wholly owned subsidiary of Granite Hacarmel, invested US$1.5 million in Hom Tov. The investment represented an important external financing event for the young company. Hom Tov later sought to move from technology promotion toward industrial deployment. In 2006, reports described a proposed transaction under which a group of investors led by Israeli businessman Ofer Glazer would acquire 73% of the company's shares. The transaction was not finalized. Also in 2006, Hom Tov announced plans for a full-scale facility at Mishor Rotem in the Negev Desert, south of Beersheba. The proposed logistics design called for waste bitumen to be transported approximately 80 kilometres from the Ashdod refinery by pipeline, with processed product returned along the same route. The project would have represented the company's principal attempt to commercialize its oil-shale process, but the available material does not show that the facility entered sustained operation. After the proposed investment failed to close, Hom Tov subsequently ceased operating. The founders were also associated with A.F.S.K. Industries, which was sold to Orad in 2008. In 2011, reporting stated that Kazansky and Feldman were in arbitration with Orad regarding an alleged failure to honor a service agreement worth 14 million Israeli new shekels. That later dispute involved the related A.F.S.K. business and is relevant to the group's history, but it does not indicate that Hom Tov continued as an active enterprise. The surviving public record is limited. It does not provide reliable information on Hom Tov's final legal status, production, revenue, employees, customers, or the precise date on which operations ended. The company is consequently documented primarily as a defunct Israeli oil-shale technology venture and as a proposed developer of an oil-shale processing plant at Mishor Rotem.

1. 2011Arbitration with Orad reported

   The founders were reported to be in arbitration with Orad over a service-agreement claim.

   Source
2. 2008Related A.F.S.K. Industries sold to Orad

   A.F.S.K. Industries, also owned by the founders, was sold to Orad.

   Source
3. 2006Mishor Rotem development plan

   Hom Tov announced plans for a full-scale shale-oil production plant in Israel's Negev region.

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4. 2006Proposed majority share acquisition

   A group led by Ofer Glazer proposed acquiring 73% of the company's shares, but the transaction was not completed.

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5. 1996Sonol investment

   Sonol invested US$1.5 million in the company.

   Source
6. 1994Company founded

   Shimon Kazansky and Yisrael Feldman founded A.F.S.K. Hom Tov.

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7. 1992Oil-shale process developed

   Moshe Gvirtz, also spelled Moshe Gewertz, invented the oil-shale extraction process later promoted by Hom Tov.

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An Israeli energy-technology venture positioned around a lower-temperature, bitumen-assisted method for converting fine oil-shale particles into shale oil.

• Bitumen-assisted oil-shale conversion processEnergy technology1994

  The process promoted by Hom Tov used fine oil-shale particles mixed with waste bitumen and circulated the resulting slurry through heated coils. Promoters claimed that the bitumen enabled somewhat lower-temperature processing than conventional shale-oil extraction and could improve economics and environmental performance. The process was associated with US Patent 5,372,708, but the available material does not establish sustained commercial-scale operation.

• Mishor Rotem production plant proposalIndustrial energy project2006

  Hom Tov's proposed full-scale facility at Mishor Rotem in the Negev was intended to convert oil shale into shale oil. The project plan called for bitumen from the Ashdod refinery to be delivered by pipeline over approximately 80 kilometres, with product transported back along the same corridor. The available record does not show that the plant became an operating commercial facility.

• 2006Proposed sale of a 73% shareholdingM&A

  A group of investors led by Ofer Glazer was reported to be pursuing a controlling investment in Hom Tov.

  What changed. The proposed acquisition was announced or reported but was not finalized.

  Aftermath. Hom Tov subsequently ceased to operate, according to the available account.

  Source
• 2006Plan to commercialize oil-shale processing at Mishor RotemStrategy

  Hom Tov sought to scale its promoted oil-shale conversion technology beyond laboratory or demonstration use.

  What changed. The company announced plans for a full-scale plant in the Negev, with bitumen supplied from Ashdod by pipeline.

  Aftermath. The available material does not document completion or sustained operation of the proposed plant.

  Source

• 2011Arbitration involving related A.F.S.K. business and Orad

  Shimon Kazansky and Yisrael Feldman were reported to be in arbitration with Orad over alleged non-performance of a service agreement valued at 14 million Israeli new shekels.

  Lawsuit
  Source
• 2006Proposed majority investment led by Ofer Glazer

  Reports stated that an investor group led by Ofer Glazer intended to acquire 73% of Hom Tov, but the transaction was not completed.

  M&A
  Source
• 2006Mishor Rotem shale-oil plant proposal

  Hom Tov announced plans for a full-scale oil-shale processing plant at Mishor Rotem in Israel's Negev Desert.

  Product launch
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• 1996Sonol invests in A.F.S.K. Hom Tov

  Sonol, a wholly owned subsidiary of Granite Hacarmel, invested US$1.5 million in Hom Tov.

  Other
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1. A.F.S.K. Hom Tov