April 1, 2012:

High-tech fencing has been installed around the Bapco refinery, its marketing terminal, strategic facilities in the Bahrain Field and storage tanks in Sitra, said Energy Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza. The plan, which has been implemented in conjunction with the Interior Ministry, has almost been completed. "The work is 99 per cent complete," Dr Mirza told the GDN. "A state-of-the-art security system, with closed-circuit televisions connected to a central control room, is also being set up for foolproof security at all times."

Dr Mirza said although the new measures were not related to the unrest, the need to safeguard Bahrain's sensitive energy infrastructure had become more apparent. He earlier presented details of the security plan along with other ministry initiatives to His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Speaking after an event to mark health and safety week celebrations at the Bapco Club in Awali, Dr Mirza revealed work on engineering designs for the new crude pipeline from Saudi Arabia to Bahrain had begun.

"Once the initial phase is completed, we will know what the project is going to cost and when it will be commissioned," he said. Dr Mirza said the new pipeline was being built on a new route, replacing the existing pipeline which had become old and was now part of new urban developments.

By Gulf Daily