meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Bahrain charts pathway to net-zero future

8 November 2023

The rebranding of state oil and gas holding company Nogaholding to Bapco Energies in May was the first overhaul made by Bahrain in a long, phased campaign to achieve net-zero emissions.

As a country that produces just 200,000 barrels a day (b/d) of oil and is almost solely dependent on its neighbour Saudi Arabia for oil and gas supplies, attaining net-zero emissions might be easier and quicker for Bahrain than for its hydrocarbons-heavy Gulf peers.

Bahrain appears to be aware of this potential and has been focusing its efforts on curating a programme to become net-zero by 2060. It has brought on board advisors such as Boston Consulting Group to devise a strategy to achieve its environmental goals.

Following the launch of the new brand identity, Bapco Energies published emissions-reduction targets in July, in one of the most detailed disclosures by any state energy enterprise in the GCC.

Using 2017 as a baseline year, Bapco Energies has committed to reducing absolute Scope 3 emissions in Bahrain by 30 per cent by 2035, and to reaching net-zero Scope 3 emissions by 2060.

In addition, Bapco Energies lists its Scope 1 and 2 net emissions intensity reduction targets, also using 2017 as a baseline, as 15 per cent by 2025, 25 per cent by 2030, 30 per cent by 2035, 50 per cent by 2040 and 75 per cent by 2050, to eventually reach net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2060.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions are directly related to the core operations of an energy-producing company. In contrast, Scope 3 refers to emissions for which the company is indirectly responsible – a critical measure in the fight against climate change.

Bapco Energies has made its Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions targets public as part of a framework it has adopted to link its environmental sustainability efforts to its financing exercises. Standard Chartered Bank will support the financing framework.

Decarbonisation action

Similar to large-scale decarbonisation project investments made by Gulf national oil companies, Bapco Energies has initiated a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project estimated to be worth about $4bn, according to its CEO Mark Thomas. The project is expected to be able to sequester 10-12 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year for at least 50 years.

The scope of the project involves sequestering the carbon dioxide emissions in a large gas reservoir in the Bahrain field, which is also known as the Awali field. The reservoir is big enough to sequester more than 550,000 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, according to Thomas.

The CCS project is bigger than any other project of its kind that has been announced, Thomas claimed in an interview with MEED.

“The good thing is that it is all onshore. Ten to 12 million tonnes of emissions are all within a 7 kilometre radius and the field where it will be stored is 10 kilometres away,” Thomas said.

“I have the space there,” he said. “The challenge is the technology and the cost. This is a very expensive project. We are looking for economies of scale and how we might stage it in a way that makes sense.

“We completed a very early feasibility study last year, in 2022,” he continued.

“We have subsequently engaged with experts in CCS and we expect that [a second] study will be done by mid-2023,” he said, adding that front-end engineering and design work for the project is expected to start before the end of this year.

Sitra refinery upgrade megaproject

Meanwhile, a $4.2bn project by Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) to upgrade the Sitra refinery in Bahrain has made slow progress. The objective of the Bapco Modernisation Programme (BMP) is to boost the processing capacity of the country’s only oil refinery from 267,000 b/d to 380,000 b/d – a strategic target for Bahrain’s long-term downstream potential.

In February 2018, Bapco awarded the $4.2bn contract to perform engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works to upgrade the Sitra refinery to a consortium led by France’s Technip Energies that includes Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas and South Korea’s Samsung Engineering.

The project was originally expected to reach mechanical completion in 2023, with operations set to begin in 2024. MEED understands that Bapco will likely miss this commissioning schedule, however.

According to the latest update on EPC progress on the BMP, all of the catalysts required to start operating the newly-installed units have been delivered to the site, although the catalysts still need to be fully loaded into the units.

Upstream objectives

Despite its low oil production capacity, Bahrain is a key member of the Opec+ coalition of oil producers.

Bapco Upstream, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Bapco Energies, is striving to maintain, or even increase, its oil and gas production levels through capital expenditure on key projects.

Bapco Upstream, previously known as Tatweer Petroleum, is the sole operator of the onshore Bahrain field – the first oil field discovered in the Gulf region in 1932. The company produces an average of 42,400 b/d of crude oil and 1.67 billion cubic feet a day of non-associated gas from the Bahrain field.

This represents less than a quarter of the country’s oil output capacity, but is important to Manama as it is the only indigenous oil-producing asset and is key to meeting domestic oil demand.

Bapco Upstream also shares the offshore Abu Safah field, located in the Gulf waters between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with Saudi Aramco. Abu Safah contributes about 145,000 b/d to Bahrain’s oil production.

At present, the firm is pushing ahead with a phased field development project to install non-associated gas compressor facilities and remote gas dehydration units to maintain gas deliverability from the Bahrain field. Bapco Upstream is understood to be close to awarding a contract for EPC work on non-associated gas compressor facilities and associated works as part of this project.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11273443/main2024.jpg
Indrajit Sen

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Kuwait receives bids for Al-Khairan phase one IWPP

    2 June 2026

     

    Two developer consortiums have submitted bids for the first phase of Kuwait’s Al-Khairan independent water and power producer (IWPP) project, according to a source.

    Bids were received by the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (Kapp) on 1 June.

    The facility will have a capacity of 1,800MW and 150,000 cubic metres a day of desalinated water. It will be located in Al-Khairan, adjacent to the Al-Zour South thermal plant. 

    The bidders include:

    • Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) / A H Al-Sagar & Brothers (Saudi Arabia) 
    • Acwa (Saudi Arabia) / Gulf Investment Corporation (Kuwait)

    The Al-Khairan IWPP is being procured by Kapp in partnership with the Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy (MEWRE).

    The main contract was tendered last September. Three consortiums and two individual companies were previously prequalified to participate in the tender.

    Ernst & Young, BNP Paribas, AtkinsRealis and Addleshaw Goddard are financial advisers on the project. Chadbourne & Parke is acting as legal adviser.

    The winning bidder will sign a set of public-private partnership agreements covering financing, design, construction, operation and transfer of the project. The energy conversion and water-purchase agreement is expected to cover a 25-year supply period.

    Future phases

    The Al-Khairan IWPP project is expected to run on low-sulphur fuel oil as the primary fuel and to accommodate crude oil, gas oil and natural gas as backup fuels. Future phases will further expand capacity.

    It is understood that the estimated $750m second phase of the Al-Khairan IWPP project will add a further 1,800MW of generation capacity through a combined-cycle gas-fired power plant.

    The project, first mooted over a decade ago, remains in the early development stages, with no plans currently to advance to procurement in 2026, a source said.

    According to the source, the immediate focus is on advancing plans for the 3,600MW Nuwaiseeb power and water desalination IWPP project.

    The Nuwaiseeb IWPP plant will have a desalination capacity of 75 million imperial gallons a day.

    Kapp plans to release a transaction advisory tender for the project by the end of the year.

    > Be recognised among the best in the industry at the MEED Projects Awards 2026 …

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17072685/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Doosan confirms Saudi Jafurah 2 cogen contract

    2 June 2026

    South Korea’s Doosan Enerbility has confirmed it has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract worth about $556m for the second phase of the Jafurah combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Saudi Arabia.

    The project is being developed by Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) in partnership with Saudi Aramco.

    Doosan said the contract covers design, equipment supply, installation, construction and commissioning of the facility.

    The Jafurah CHP phase 2 project will be built near the Jafurah gas field, about 400 kilometres east of Riyadh. Once operational, it will generate 330MW of electricity and produce 465 tonnes of steam an hour for the nearby gas field.

    According to the firm, the project’s main steam turbine will be supplied by Doosan Skoda Power, a subsidiary of Doosan Enerbility.

    WSP is acting as the project management consultant for the project, which is scheduled for completion in 2029.

    The Jafurah gas development is part of Aramco’s $3.2bn unconventional resources programme, which aims to develop shale gas in three areas. Jafurah lies southeast of Ghawar, the world’s largest conventional oil field.

    The programme is part of Riyadh’s plans under Vision 20230 to ensure the kingdom remains self-sufficient in gas supply amid rising demand from the residential and industrial power sectors.

    Jafurah phase one

    In February 2025, MEED exclusively reported that talks were under way to expand the capacity of the $500m Jafurah cogeneration independent steam and power plant (ISPP).

    Construction works were completed on the facility last November.

    At the time of its procurement, the plant’s first phase was to have a power capacity of 270-320MW, and a low-pressure (LP) steam demand of 77-166 thousand pounds an hour (klb/hr) and high-pressure (HP) steam demand of 29-126 klb/hour by 2023.

    The LP and HP steam demand will increase to 283-373 klb/hr and 66-321 klb/hr by 2027, respectively.

    The oil giant issued the letter of award to Kepco for the contract to develop the Jafurah ISPP scheme in July 2022.

    Kepco subsequently awarded South Korea’s Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction the project’s EPC contract.

    US/India-based Synergy Consulting provided financial advisory services to Kepco on its bid.

    Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) served as the client’s financial adviser for the project. Germany’s Fichtner Consulting Engineers is technical consultant, while the UK’s Wood Group is project management consultant.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17072199/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Al-Mabanee submits lowest bids for Kuwait infrastructure

    2 June 2026

    Kuwait’s Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has opened commercial bids for two major infrastructure and public buildings packages at South Al-Mutlaa Residential City.

    Local firm Al-Mabanee United Company has emerged as the lowest bidder for both contracts, submitting combined offers worth KD44m. Both packages entail the construction, completion and maintenance of services, infrastructure works and public buildings for different district centres within the city.

    The first contract covers the infrastructure and public buildings for the N3 District Centre. PAHW received proposals from eight bidders, with Al-Mabanee United Company submitting the lowest price at KD20.9m. The second-lowest offer was submitted by The Contractor General Trading & Contracting Company at KD22.4m, followed by Golden Engineering Group for General Trading & Contracting at KD22.7m, though Golden Engineering Group was flagged for not providing a bid bond.

    Al-Khonaini General Trading & Contracting Company, operating as Inshat Al-Khonaini, ranked fourth with a bid of KD22.7m, followed closely by Kuwait Industrial Centre Company at KD22.8m. Combined Group Contracting Company submitted a bid of KD23.8m, Al-Dar Engineering & Construction Company bid KD25.7m, and China’s Sichuan Road & Bridge Group Corporation submitted the highest active proposal at KD29m. 

    The second contract is for identical infrastructure and public building works at the N1 District Centre. Al-Mabanee United Company submitted the lowest bid of KD22.8m. Its closest competitor was The Contractor General Trading & Contracting Company, which submitted an offer of KD23.9m.

    Al-Khonaini General Trading & Contracting Company came in third with a bid of KD24.2m, followed by Kuwait Industrial Centre Company at KD24.4m and Golden Engineering Group for General Trading & Contracting at KD24.4m. Combined Group Contracting Company placed a bid of KD26m, Al-Dar Engineering & Construction Company bid KD26.5m, and United Construction Company, known as Al-Inshat Al-Muttahida, submitted an offer of KD 30.9m. Al-Ghanim International General Trading & Contracting filed the highest bid at KD344m and was also noted for lacking a bid bond.

    South Mutlaa Residential City is a large-scale planned development designed to accommodate around 400,000 residents in a modern, fully serviced urban environment. Once completed, it will offer contemporary housing alongside extensive logistical services and a wide range of public and commercial areas, including hospitals, schools and other social services.

    The project also includes major infrastructure works such as approximately 150 kilometres of roads and related structures, lighting and other public works, as well as integrated systems for water distribution, rainwater collection and sewage. In addition, it will provide the civil infrastructure needed for electricity distribution, telecommunications networks and traffic control to support a well-connected, functional city.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17071938/main.gif
    Colin Foreman
  • Local developer secures finance for three Riyadh projects

    2 June 2026

    Qimam Noshoz for Real Estate Development Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Banan Real Estate Company, has signed a sharia-compliant credit facility agreement worth SR84m ($22.4m) with Riyad Bank to fund three commercial, hospitality and sports developments in the kingdom.

    The financing agreement is split into two distinct tranches to align with the projects’ development timelines. The first tranche consists of SR49m with a maturity duration of seven years, while the remaining SR35m has been secured for an eight-year term.

    Qimam Noshoz will utilise the capital to fund construction works for the Al-Rahmaniyah Gem and Al-Wadi District Gem projects. Both of these projects are already leased to the fitness operator Armah Sports Company. The other project is an independent hotel located within the Al-Wadi District.

    The Al-Wadi development is designed as an integrated commercial complex spanning approximately 7,818.5 square metres of land, with a built-up area of about 975 square metres. It includes a men’s gym, a women’s gym and a hotel building.

    The Al-Rahmaniyah project is an integrated commercial development combining fitness facilities with retail. The asset features men’s and women’s gyms operating alongside an independent commercial zone.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17071628/main.jpg
    Colin Foreman
  • SLB wins $385m contract for Kuwait oil research centre

    2 June 2026

    Schlumberger Oilfield Eastern, a unit of the US-headquartered oilfield services company SLB, has been awarded a KD118m ($385m) contract to develop an oil and gas research centre in Kuwait.

    The contract was awarded by the state-owned upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), according to a report by Kuwait’s Al-Rai newspaper.

    The Ahmadi Innovation Valley (AIV) project is planned as an advanced research and innovation hub equipped with specialised facilities and technical teams focused on applied research for Kuwait’s oil and gas sector.

    The contract was awarded after the Higher Purchase Committee (HPC) of Kuwait’s national oil and gas company Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) determined the bid to be compliant with the project’s technical and commercial requirements.

    In February 2025, KOC signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with five international oilfield service companies to support the development of the AIV initiative.

    These companies were:

    • SLB (US)
    • Baker Hughes (US)
    • Weatherford (US)
    • Halliburton (US)
    • National Energy Services Reunited (US)

    Under the preliminary agreements, each of the five companies agreed to establish a world-class research and development centre at the project site, focused on helping KOC meet challenges in the upstream sector.

    KOC’s CEO Ahmad Jaber Al-Eidan had said in February 2025 that the project will enable Kuwait to keep pace with global transformations while investing in advanced technologies to ensure the sector’s sustainability and achieve operational excellence.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/17063475/main.gif
    Wil Crisp