Fuelling growth

Manama : Bahrain Jet Fuel Company, a Bahraini joint-venture company between The Oil and Gas Holding Company (nogaholding) and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) yesterday announced signing an Aviation Fuelling Restructuring Agreements resulting in a more streamlined and efficient aviation fuel supply, operation and maintenance process at the Bahrain International Airport. 

The restructuring, in line with the directives of the Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, is part of the BIA’s on-going Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP). The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Oil, Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Kamal Ahmed.

“Although the economy of Bahrain is increasingly diversified, the oil and gas sector remains as the primary catalyst of government economic growth. Nogaholding is spreading several strategic initiatives such as BJFCo to fuel sustainable economic growth and provide paradigm shift and income sources in line with Bahrain Vision 2030 and beyond,” said Minister of Oil, Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. 

Previously, Bahrain Aviation Fuelling Company (BAFCO) was in sole control of most of the Kingdom’s aviation fuelling & distribution functions, but now the responsibility will be split among more than one entity, resulting in more efficient overall operations. 

The agreements were signed by the Oil and Gas Holding Company (nogaholding), Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), Bahrain Aviation Fuelling Company (BAFCO), British Petroleum (BP), Chevron, and the recently established BAC Jet Fuel Company (BJFCo). 

The combined aim is to streamline operations between the parties. BAPCO, BP and Chevron have been awarded the right to supply aviation fuel and provide aircraft refuelling services at BIA, while the purchase of the hydrant system assets were taken over by, BJFCo from its current owners. 

BJFCo awarded BAFCO the right to operate and maintain the hydrant system, while a hydrant usage agreement, signed by BJFCo, BAPCO, BP, and Chevron, grants the entities funding and usage rights concerning the hydrants, and a permission agreement sees BAC granting BJFCo the right to use the hydrant system.

“The agreement marks a turning point for the Bahrain aviation industry,” said BAC CEO, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah. 

Bassem Battisha, Chevron’s Country Chairman in Bahrain and BAFCO Director said: “This allows us to continue to serve our customers with reliable jet fuel supply and support the long-term objectives of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Bahrain Airport Companies.”

“We remain fully committed to Bahrain’s aviation sector and we would like to express our thanks to the Government of Bahrain for their continued support and enabling the success of this partnership”, commented Christian Tabet, Managing Director Air BP Middle East & North Africa.