Bapco’s Lube Base Oil Project has been recognized as the Best National EPC Project for MEED “Quality Awards for Projects 2012.”
The Minister of Energy, The Chairman of National Oil and Gas Authority, Dr. Abdul Hussain Bin Ali Mirza congratulated Bapco’s Board of Directors, led by the Chairman of the Board, Adel Al-Moayyed, and the Management, led by the Chief Executive Gordon Smith, on the achievement that is indicative of its aspiration to strive for excellence.
The Minister conveyed his personal best wishes to all at Bapco to keep up with this determined approach.
The Minister lauded National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA), which according to him, is playing increasing role in the energy sector of Bahrain. It’s Oil and Gas Holding Company (NOGA HOLDING) owns the Bahrain Government’s assets such as Bapco. NOGA HOLDING and Bapco each hold a 27.5% share in this manufacturing joint venture facility and Neste Oil holds 45%. This provides Bahraini companies a majority share of 55% in the joint venture. Bapco is the Operator of the facility and Neste Oil lifts and markets the products.
Gordon Smith, the Chief Executive of Bapco complimented the LBOP Project Team members and all other Bapco employees who contributed to this success for the excellent team work and wished them all the best in their future endeavors. Abdul Jabbar A Karim, GM Major Engineering Projects thanked Bapco management for their continued help and cooperation contributing to the success of projects in Bapco. He conveyed his special thanks to the Project Management Team for having executed a successful project which was completed on budget and on time, meeting all safety and quality requirements.
As one of its strategic goals for the future, Bapco aims at diversifying its product range and produce higher value products at its refinery. The newly commissioned hydrocracker at the LSDP complex offered one such opportunity. The ultra low sulphur unconverted oil from the hydrocracker bottoms is an excellent feedstock for the manufacture of high value lubricant base oils. This new JV facility produces Group III, Very High Viscosity Index (VHVI) Lubricant Base Oils using UCO from Bapco Hydrocracker as feedstock. The Group III Lubricant Base Oil Products meet the next generation of lubricant performance and environmental standards and are in increasing demand in Europe and North America.
Superior resistance to degradation at higher temperatures, low volatility and high viscosity index of Group III lube base oils, provides longer drain intervals. The oil change is not required for up to 10,000 miles for the high performance automobile engines of the modern and future passenger cars. These lubricants are also being specified for heavy transportation sector by the new regulations to reduce the environmental impact.