Sixteen of the state-owned Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) petrol stations may be privatised next year, said a top government official.

Oil and Gas Affairs minister and National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) chairman Dr Abdulhussain Mirza said 16 petrol stations of Bapco may be privatised, and that a joint stock company will be set up by the middle of next year to offer shares to the public.

The company will be listed on Bahrain Stock Exchange, Dr Mirza was quoted as saying in the newspaper Akhbar Al Khaleej.

Dr Mirza said that a study was underway to assign the management of new petrol stations to the company. – TradeArabia News Service