A private sector refinery could be up and running in Bahrain within five years, according to Oil and Gas Affairs Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza.

Steps have already been taken to make this possible, he said after opening an exhibition running alongside the Middle East Petrotech 2010.

"Bahrain will have a lot of oil supplies in the next few years and this will entail not only the capacity of Bapco being augmented but also setting up another refinery," Dr Mirza, who is also the chairman of National Oil and Gas Authority, told the Gulf Daily News, our sister newspaper.

"A new pipeline from Saudi Arabia, that will be ready next year, will increase Bahrain's oil supply from the present 240,000 bpd to 350,000 bpd.

"In addition, the ongoing development of the Bahrain Field will mean the output will increase to 100,000 bpd, as opposed to 32,000 bpd now."

"An expansion at Bapco is on the cards but we may also look at a new refinery in the private sector."

Middle East Petrotech is being held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. -TradeArabia News Service