Energy & Utilities
From The Report: Bahrain 2023
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Bahrain, known as the birthplace of the Arabian Peninsula’s oil industry, is navigating the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition. While focusing on renewables production, energy efficiency and sustainability, the kingdom is also leveraging its remaining hydrocarbons resources. The country has made promising hydrocarbons discoveries that indicate the potential for further expansion in the sector. The industry is receiving a boost from downstream developments, including the modernisation of the Sitra refinery, located south of the capital Manama. Bahrain’s utilities segment is driving demand for new infrastructure and investment due in part to renewable energy and efficiency strategies. The government is restructuring its oil and gas holding company, Bapco Energies. This endeavour entails the potential spin-off of significant assets in transport, logistics and infrastructure in the coming years.

This chapter contains an interview with Mark Thomas, Group CEO, Bapco Energies.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Enhancing efficiencies: The kingdom seeks to increase renewable energy production and intensify sustainability efforts
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Bahrain, known as the birthplace of the Arabian Peninsula’s oil industry, is navigating the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition. While focusing on renewables production, energy efficiency and sustainability, the kingdom is also leveraging its remaining hydrocarbons resources. The country has made promising hydrocarbons discoveries that indicate the potential for further expansion in the sector. The industry is receiving a boost from downstream developments, including the modernisation…

Analysis

New discoveries: The kingdom makes efforts to capitalise on its potential for energy exploration and development
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In November 2022 Bapco Energies, Bahrain’s oil and gas holding company, announced a significant hydrocarbons discovery, marking the first major find in the kingdom since the unveiling of the Khaleej Al Bahrain field in 2018. The discovery consists of two natural gas reservoirs located in the unconventional Al Jawf and Al Joubah layers, underneath the Al Onaiza and Al Khuf reservoirs. The last two reservoirs are in production and form part of the Bahrain Field, a well-established onshore oil field…

Analysis

Going solar: Bahrain takes significant steps to boost renewable energy by embracing solar power installations
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Bahrain’s approach to achieving a net-zero and sustainable energy future involves harnessing solar, wind and waste resources. The country is prioritising solar energy, and the kingdom has devised innovative plans to leverage solar power for green energy production, including the implementation of floating solar farms, widespread deployment of rooftop solar panels and the establishment of power plants on landfill sites. Energy sector leaders are optimistic that Bahrain will achieve its net-zero…

Interview

Powering the next generation: Mark Thomas, Group CEO, Bapco Energies, on building an ecosystem for innovative and sustainable energy solutions
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Interview:Mark Thomas In what ways will the formulation of the National Energy Strategy reposition Bahrain’s market? MARK THOMAS: The National Energy Strategy is a government initiative that is being developed with shortand long-term approaches to the kingdom’s power supply. One of the primary goals is to diversify the energy supply, since Bahrain is dependent on domestic natural gas. As natural resources are finite, it is important to find replacements. The first element of the strategy…

Analysis

Decarbonisation solutions: The Gulf looks to carbon capture and hydrogen to drive the transition to clean energy production and net-zero emissions
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As hydrocarbons producers reap sustained revenue from high global prices, national oil companies (NOCs) in the Gulf are accelerating investment in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS); hydrogen; and cleaner sources of energy to make their activities less carbon-intensive and support the energy transition. Gulf NOCs’ low-cost production advantages and massive hydrocarbons resources mean that CCUS can reduce emissions for the coming decades as the world continues to rely on oil and gas…

Analysis

Positioning for growth: Emerging market producers strive to secure greater market shares amid an evolving industry landscape
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As a response to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the EU has imposed bans on Russian oil and oil-product exports, set to be enforced in 2023. These bans present an opportunity for emerging market producers to secure larger shares in an evolving market. In February 2023 the EU implemented bans on Russian oil products like diesel, following previous bans on Russian seaborne crude oil exports that started in December of the previous year. Meeting European Demand The EU has had little difficulty in…