BMP facilities deploy latest tech to enhance efficiency

The Bapco Modernization Project (BMP) increases the company's refining capacity, enhances the product slate, improves energy efficiency, while ensuring environmental compliance

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THE Bapco Modernization Project (BMP), one of the largest energy initiatives in the history of Bahrain, represents the most significant capital investment in Bapco Refining's 90-year history.

This multi-billion-dollar project prepares Bahrain for the evolving energy landscape.

At its peak, the BMP has involved more than 20,000 contractors and represents a transformative step for Bapco Refining. By enabling higher throughput, improving product quality, and ensuring compliance with environmental standards, the BMP aligns with Bahrain's Vision 2030 and strengthens the company's competitiveness in the global energy market.

OBJECTIVES OF THE BMP

The BMP will increase the company's refining capacity, enhance the product slate, improve energy efficiency, and ensure environmental compliance.

The refinery's crude capacity will rise by 42 percent, reaching 400,000 barrels per day, while the Resid Hydrocracking Unit (RHCU) will convert 78 per cent of lower-grade feedstock into high-value distillates, such as diesel and kerosene. Additionally, the project will improve the Energy Efficiency Index (EII) through the introduction of new, efficient units and the decommissioning of older facilities.

RESID HYDROCRACKING UNIT

One of the key units of the BMP is a Resid Hydrocracking Unit (1RHCU) which is powered by technology licensed from Chevron Lummus Global (CLG). The BMP has built a two-train RHCU with a capacity of 65,000bpd.

Less than a dozen of these units exists globally, and Bapco's 1RHCU will be among the largest on the planet. The plot size for 1RHCU is expected to be approximately 260m x 260m - that is, equivalent to almost 10 football pitches.

The RHCU will convert 78 per cent of the vacuum resid feed into intermediate products (distillates) which will then be further processed into high margin kerosene and diesel.

NEW CRUDE AND VACCUM UNIT (7CDU/7VDU)