Bahrain Petrochemical Company (Bapco) has installed a $120 million waste water treatment plant (WWTP) at its refinery.

Inaugurated by Finance Minister and Minister in charge of Oil and Gas Affairs Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa yesterday, it is the first global installation of this size in any refinery waste water treatment facility, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Based on four-stage membrane bio-reactor technology, the plant will provide secondary treatment to the refinery waste water that is received from the existing primary treatment facility.

The capacity of the plant is 19,200 cu m per day.

Shaikh Ahmed said post-commissioning of the WWTP, Bapco will meet and exceed the minimum standard set in national environmental regulations for aqueous discharge to the sea thereby protecting the marine life in Bahraini waters.

Bapco has reiterated its commitment as an environmentally responsible company by developing Bahrain's longest landscaping, covering a span of 2km near Ma'ameer area, he added.

The cost of the landscaping work was $2.2 million, and it was done as a part of the plant project.

He also commended the efforts of Bapco's management and the project team in terms of safety performance which was exemplary with over 3.5 million man-hours without a single lost time accident.

The process design for the plant was done by CH2MHILL, a leading process consultancy in waste water treatment.

Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) was managed by GS Engineering & Construction, a South Korean construction and civil engineering company.

Bapco said the project saw an effective implementation of its contracting philosophy to maximise use of local content in the purchase of goods and services.

More than $34 million, which amounts to nearly half of the EPC contract value, was spent by the Korean firm in purchasing materials and services locally thus supporting local businesses and employment.

The project has also led to creation of additional employment opportunities for Bahrainis.

Bapco has hired 15 youngsters who have been trained for the operation and maintenance of the world-class facility.

The project is part of Bapco's environmental strategic plan, in line with the requirements laid down by the Supreme Council for the Environment.

Shaikh Ahmed was joined at the inauguration by Bapco chairman and acting chief executive Adel Almoayyed, directors and executive management team as well as representatives of the design and construction contractor organisations. – TradeArabia News Service