Bahrain is planning to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, said a senior government official, adding that the National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) has already conducted the feasibility studies into the project.

Finance Minister and Minister in Charge of Oil and Gas Affairs Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa unveiled the scheme as he attended the 11th International Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (Petrotech-2014) in New Delhi, India, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The four-day event which opened last Sunday is being held under the patronage of India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The minister, who is attending at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Dr Veerappa Moily, said that Bahrain could soon start importing gas to meet soaring domestic demand for energy.

He also outlined ongoing plans to develop the output of Bahrain Oil Field, which is the cornerstone of the national economy.

"Bahrain is banking on developing alternative sources of energy to meet demand," Shaikh Ahmed said, citing the completing of an experimental project

He stressed the importance of altering consumers culture to rationalise the energy bill, reduce lethal emissions and ensure power sustainability.

The minister pointed out other programmes and initiatives to optimise energy consumption, citing the low carbon sustainability programme, which was launched in co-operation with the World Bank.

The minister is accompanies by Bapco chairman Adel Almoayyed, assistant under-secretary for economic affairs Yusuf Abdulla Humood and Bapco projects director-general Abduljabbar Abdulkarim. – TradeArabia News Service