Minister opens gas networks regional forum

, Mar. 13 (BNA): Oil Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa has inaugurated the activities of the regional forum on natural gas pipeline networks hosted in the Kingdom. The event was organised by the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) in cooperation with the International Gas Union (IGU) and attended by a large number of participants including senior officials, experts in the industry, representatives of regional and international organisations, governmental institutions, oil firms operating in the region under the umbrella of the IGU. In his inaugural speech, the minister welcomed the guests wishing them a nice sojourn in Bahrain to avail from the forum’s discussion of scientific and practical issues and best practices in the gas sector. He appreciated the government support to NOGA’s attracting regional and international actors to support Bahrain’s national sustainable development goals (SDGs) led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The minister highlighted the constructive cooperation between NOGA and the executive committees and coordination with the IGU on international fora aimed at promoting and strengthening the cooperation between the representatives of the organisations and industrial companies on natural gas. He also cited key topics related to transnational gas pipeline networks, welcoming Bahrain’s hosting this distinguished international forum for the first time. The minister pointed out that the development of the oil industry in the region is witnessing continuous strides keeping abreast with latest technological development and applications to ensure its progress and attain the best results. He pointed out the need to continue to develop the technology for the oil and gas sector and accelerate the pace of production whilst taking into account the cost of optimal solutions. The project costs a total of 670 million dollars on a space of five square kilometres northwest of Khalifa bin Salman Port, was developed according to the construction, operation and ownership transfer over 20 years. The project consists of floating storage, harbor nautical barrier, neighboring deck, underwater pipelines to transport gas from the rostrum to the beach, scheduled to be ready early in the year 2019, according to the minister.