Bahrain Petroleum Company
The Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) is an integrated national oil company of Bahrain.
 | |
| Type | State owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Oil and gas industry |
| Founded | 1929 in Canada 1999 |
| Founder | Standard Oil Company of California |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Abdulrahman Jawahery (CEO) |
| Owner | Government of Bahrain |
| Website | www |
History
BAPCO was established in 1929 in Canada by Standard Oil Company of California for oil exploration activities in Bahrain.[1][2][3] It took over Bahrain's assets of Gulf Oil.[1] In 1930 it obtained the only oil concession in Bahrain.[4] BAPCO discovered first oil in 1931.[5] On 31 May 1932, the company discovered the Bahrain Field (Awali Field). After exporting oil and constructing a refinery, it started with 10,000 barrels per day (1,600 m3/d) refining capacity in 1936.[3] Later that year the Standard Oil Company of California signed an agreement with Texaco, which acquired a half of BAPCO's shares.[1] In 1975 more than 60% BAPCO's shares was acquired by the Government of Bahrain. In 1980, all BAPCO's shares were taken over by the Government of Bahrain.[1][6] In 1978 the oil sector was nationalized and BAPCO assumed full control of the national energy sector.[5] In 1999, the current Bahrain Petroleum Company was created when the Bahrain National Oil Company, established in 1976, merged with BAPCO.[1][6] In 2018 BAPCO commissioned a new pipeline that replaced the over 70 years old pipeline infrastructure between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.[3] In March 2019 construction work was started to upgrade the main oil refinery Sitra. The $5 billion project will increase the capacity to 380,000 barrels per day (60,000 m3/d).[3] Currently Abdulrahman Jawahery serves as CEO of the BAPCO.
Operations
BAPCO is an integrated oil company operating in the field of refining, and marketing. It operates a 267,000-barrel-per-day (42,400 m3/d) oil refinery which lies midway between the original BAPCO expat workers accommodation township of Awali and Sitra.[7] The complex also includes storage facilities for 14 million barrels (2.2 million cubic metres), a marketing terminal, and a marine terminal. 95% of the company's products are for exports.[5] About one-sixth of this crude originates from the Bahrain Field, with the remainder being pumped from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Aramco supplies approximately 350,000 barrels per day (56,000 m3/d) through the 112-kilometre (70 mi) pipeline from Aramco's Abqaiq Plant.[8] Once the flagship Sitra refinery's expansion is completed in 2023, its capacity will be increased from 267,000 bpd to 380,000 bpd.[9]
References
- Vassiliou, Marius (2018). Historical dictionary of the petroleum industry, 2nd Ed. Historical dictionaries of professions and industries. Vol. 3. Rowman and Littlefield. p. 621. ISBN 978-1-5381-1159-8.
- Lobna Ali Al-Khalifa (2010). Foreign Direct Investment in Bahrain. Universal-Publishers. p. 146. ISBN 9781599423210.
- "Boosting production to 380,000 bpd". The Japan Times. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- The United States and Arab nationalism: the Syrian case, 1953-1960. Greenwood Publishing Group. 2009. p. 6. ISBN 9780275954260.
- Olimat, Muhamad S. (2016). China and the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Strategic Partnership in a Changing World. Lexington Books. p. 92. ISBN 9781498545037.
- The Middle East and North Africa 2003 (49 ed.). [Routledge]. 2002. p. 225. ISBN 9781857431322.
- Minerals Yearbook, 2008, V. 3, Area Reports, International, Africa and the Middle East. United States Geological Survey. 2010. pp. 45–3. ISBN 9781411329652.
- Rais, Ahlam (15 October 2018). "Saudi Aramco and Bapco Commission New Pipeline to Support Bahrain's Energy Demand". Process Worldwide. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Refinery news roundup: Fujairah to get fourth refinery in 2021". S&P Global. December 22, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
