Bapco to complete refinery modernisation plan by 2018

30/12/2011 07:30 AST

Bapco will complete its refinery modernisation master plan by 2018, its chief executive-designate Gordon Smith said.

Mr Smith, who replaces Faisal Al Mahroos on New Year's Day, said the modernisation and expansion would mean the refinery's capacity going up from the present 260,000 barrels per day to 450,000 bpd.

Mr Smith said the project involves upgrading several units which will convert black oil products to more valuable ones and improve energy efficiency.

"I will take over at the helm at a time when many significant projects have been completed and several more are in the pipeline," he told the GDN.

Mr Smith was speaking on the sidelines of a Bapco management information meeting at the Bapco Club, Awali.

"There has also been significant progress on the new A/B Pipeline project linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia," Mr Smith added.

"This pipeline is to be constructed from Saudi Aramco's plant in Saudi Arabia to the Bapco refinery on a new route," he said.

He said the 30-inch diameter, 115km-long pipeline will be capable of carrying 350,000 bpd of Arabian Light Crude to Bapco.

Mr Smith said the front-end engineering and design study for the project will begin early next year and construction will start by the third quarter of 2012.

"The completion of the pipeline will coincide with that of the proposed refinery master plan."

Mr Smith, at present the company's refining and marketing deputy chief executive, has a background of extensive oil industry management experience at US company Chevron.

He has led successful business turnarounds, plant commissioning and refinery operations around the world.

Earlier, speaking during the meeting, Mr Al Mahroos highlighted Bapco's achievements during the year and paid tribute to the employees.

He said the company could not have achieved what it did without the employees' dedication and hard work.

Mr Al Mahroos also introduced Bapco's re-structured management team to the employees.

Gulf Daily News