MANAMA: A major regional petroleum and chemicals products company has selected Bahrain as the headquarters for its new 'Pörner Bitumen Packing System' project in the Middle East and North Africa region.
MENA Energy DMCC has chosen the Bahrain Logistics Zone (BLZ) as the base for its project, with a view to gaining access from Bahrain to Africa, India and Asia.
The project is also expected to create around 40 new job opportunities in the Kingdom, as well as potentially increasing cargo and load movements at the Khalifa bin Salman Port.
It has the potential to be a key customer for Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), which has a strong working relationship with MENA Energy DMCC, as it will allow the development of a more efficient bitumen production and transportation system.
Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) Chief Executive Sheikh Mohammed bin Essa Al-Khalifa said the EDB's support for the establishment of the new project by MENA Energy DMCC in Bahrain is part of an overall strategy to drive forward the role of the private sector as an engine for growth for the economy.
"However, it also demonstrates the benefits of doing business in Bahrain with an established infrastructure offering access to the trillion dollar Gulf market and other international locations as well as wide-ranging commercial and operational benefits," he said.
Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, chairman of Bahrain's General Organization of Sea Ports, regulator and operator of the Bahrain Logistics Zone, commented: "This key tenancy at the BLZ represents a milestone in the Kingdom's efforts to leverage our position as a multimodal logistics leader serving the subcontinent, India, Africa and the northern Gulf countries."
He added: "We are seeing an increasing number of regional and international logistics organizations establishing their commercial bases here, and GOP are focused on facilitating this set up process for global companies. Bahrain has not only geographical advantages; our set up costs are also lower than those of other Gulf countries, and the EDB is a unique body who supports and aids foreign investment."
The MENA Energy DMCC project will offer a complete logistics solution that facilitates more economical production and delivery of bitumen in an easier process for both the refineries and the end user.
The system is made up of three components; the bitumen bag, the cooling and packing unit and melting unit. Unlike conventional metal drums, Pörner Bags can be transported on a much larger scale, with easy handling and at competitive rates, to any location worldwide.
Rashid Abdullah Ahmad Al Ghurair, chief executive of MENA Energy said: "We were attracted to the BLZ by the economic and logistics infrastructure benefits, including competitive operating costs, access to the northern Gulf region through the new port and the potential supply from BAPCO, as well as the support provided by EDB."
© Arab News 2011
