Bahrain is considering constructing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility to reduce the domestic natural gas consumption and decarbonise its economy, reported Reuters, citing Bahrain’s energy company chairman.
The proposal for the LNG facility comes amid surging demand for new fuel supplies in Europe.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Bahrain energy investment and development arm Nogaholding chairman Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa told the news agency that the country is studying the possibility of constructing a floating LNG facility.
“Floating LNG is difficult to get right now because demand is so high, but my team are approaching a solution for that. It is a world of opportunity for us to explore with partners,” Khalifa added.
Khalifa said the country is also planning to build solar projects to power its homes and industries to replace gas.
Some of these solar projects are planned to be built in neighbouring Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Khalifa said: “We have ambitious plans to add solar as a source of energy into our grid, instead of just wasting our gas.”
By 2035, Bahrain aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% and reach its net-zero emissions target by 2060.
Last year, the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported that Bahrain made two natural gas discoveries in the Al-Jawf and Al-Joubah onshore reservoirs.
The two reservoirs are in each of the unconventional Al-Juba and Al-Jawf layers, under the Al-Khuf and Al-Onaiza gas-producing fields.
Bahrain has a daily gas production capacity of approximately two billion cubic feet, as well as an oil production capacity of nearly 190,000 barrels per day, according to Nogaholding.
Bahrain is also planning to expand its Bapco refinery with a $7bn investment. The expansion will increase the refinery’s capacity to 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 267,000bpd.
