An internationally acclaimed oil and gas consultancy firm has been hired to review reserves, a top minister has revealed. Addressing parliamentarians at their weekly meeting at Parliament House in Ghudaibiya yesterday, Dr Mohamed Bin, Minister of Petroleum and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, said that the current oil and gas reserves are contradictory. He said he is doing so. He was responding to MP Abdulnabi Salman’s questions about Bahrain’s oil and gas reserves, price forecasts until the end of the year, and the impact of international and regional geopolitics on prices. “The oil and gas numbers we have vary widely and we want clarity and substance,” he said. “This sector contributes significantly to the country’s economy and income and it is vital that we know where we stand, which is why we have hired experts.” Nevertheless, he added that oil prices are expected to reach $90 per barrel this year, adding that in a worst-case scenario, they could drop below $70 per barrel. It remains at about $80 per month.
“The world is plagued by unprecedented levels of inflation, high interest rates, a global economic slowdown, wars involving oil and gas leaders, and unsafe waterways,” Dr. Bin Dayna said. Separately, Dr Bin Dayna said nine major industrial companies in Bahrain have been ordered to install Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS). In response to a question from MP Bassema Mubarak on pollution, he said that CEMS is monitored electronically by the Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE). Not all nine companies are connected to SCE, but work is underway to connect them. SCE said it continues to monitor emissions using traditional methods. Laboratory, sample, and site visits and testing performed by a neutral environmental standardization and emissions measurement company.
“Since the 1990s, we have been measuring air quality in the country 24 hours a day through seven monitoring stations under the SCE,” said Dr. Bin Daina. “The monitoring stations are located in Galari, Sitra, Bahrain Fort, Ras Hayyan, Jasra and Zayed Town.” “We are currently working on installing six new monitoring stations in Muharraq, Capital Province and Southern Province. .SCE vehicles will also have mobile units that will move around the region to ensure compliance with the standards,” he added.
“The Minister added that new industrial projects or expansions of existing projects will require an environmental impact assessment by an accredited independent environmental consultancy. “Air quality in Bahrain is at normal levels with no significant pollution. There are no signs of any threat.” Said.mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).