In the presence of Minister of Energy His Excellency Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza contracts of the new oil pipeline project linking the Kingdom of Bahrain to Saudi Arabia were signed on September 17 by Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) Board Chairman Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and Deputy Board Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Fahad Al Hilal.

Under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,

king of kingdom of Bahrain and following the guidance of the keen government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, the contracts were signed in cooperation with the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, represented by the government of Saudi Aramco.

Saudi Al-Rabie Holding company will be building the land line while the UAE National Petroleum Construction Company will be in charge of the under-sea part of the project. The two firms won the contracts after a tough competition with international bidders which affirmed the impressive reputation of GCC companies.

The signing ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries and senior officials from the oil and gas sector in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The agreement is considered a landmark given the importance of the new pipeline in supporting the oil and gas sector and backing efforts aimed at developing the energy sector and boosting sustainable development in both the countries. The new 115-km pipeline (42 km under water and 73 km on the land) is expected to cater for the growing demand for crude oil of Bahrain following the Bapco Refinery modernisation project.

Also present at the signing was Dr. Ahmed Ali Al Sharyan, General Secretary of the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) and dignitaries and officials in the oil and gas sector in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.