As part of efforts to enhance Saudi-Bahraini cooperation, Bahrain’s King Hamad and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inaugurated on Monday a new pipeline, to be managed between Saudi Aramco and Bahrain’s Bapco, Arab News informs.
The pipeline is expected to pump a rate of 220,000 barrels per day, with a transport capacity of 350,000 barrels per day. It will run 110 kilometers and connect between Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq oil facility in eastern Saudi Arabia and Bapco’s refinery in Bahrain.
Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Manama on Sunday as part of a tour of the Arab region, which began earlier this week. The inauguration ceremony began with the Saudi and Bahraini national anthems, followed by a recitation from the Holy Qur’an.
Bahraini Minister of Oil, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa, delivered a speech, during which he reviewed the march of cooperation between the two countries in the oil field. They then viewed a historical presentation on Saudi-Bahraini cooperation in the oil sector through the years until the present day.
At the end of the ceremony, the King of Bahrain and the crown prince toured a historic oil exhibition. The AB-4 pipeline, which is thirty inches in diameter, was commissioned on Oct. 9 to meet Bahrain’s growing energy demand.
It consists of three segments: a 42-km onshore Saudi segment, a 28-km Bahrain onshore segment, and a 42-km offshore segment.
The new pipeline is equipped with the latest technologies to ensure safety, environmental protection and hydrocarbon supply reliability in the coming decades.
“The commissioning of AB-4 pipeline is another chapter in the special relationship between Saudi Aramco and BAPCO in several aspects including the energy sector that has flourished for more than 73 years and beyond,” Abdullah M. Mansour, Acting Executive Head of Pipelines Distribution & Terminals at Saudi Aramco said in October.
The existing 73-year-old pipeline system which has been supplying BAPCO with crude oil since 1945 will retire safely.
During his visit to the Kingdom, the crown prince also met with his Bahraini counterpart, Prince Salman bin Hamad, and discussed opportunities to develop bilateral relations in various fields, in addition to a number of issues of common concern.
Following the meeting, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad stressed the depth of fraternal relations and historical ties that were reinforced by the crucial positions and common objectives that unite both kingdoms under the leadership of King Salman and King Hamad.
“The efforts of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are distinguished in boosting cooperation and coordination between the two countries,” he said in a statement issued on Bahrain News Agency.
Salman bin Hamad also said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of King Salman, is the umbrella house that embraces all its pivotal and active roles in addressing the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations, thus contributing to the security and stability of the region.”
Finally, he stressed that Bahrain highly values Saudi Arabia’s distinguished position, asserting that the two kingdoms stand as one body against the various challenges.
Mohammed bin Salman then met with Bahraini Defense Minister Khalifa Bin Salman, where the pair reviewed bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and the overall developments in the region.
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed praised Saudi Arabia’s leading role in supporting Arab and Islamic nations, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The foreign minister said Bahrain continued to stand with Saudi Arabia under King Salman’s leadership and the Kingdom’s role in improving security and stability in the region.
The crown prince sent a cable of thanks to King Hamad after leaving the country, conveying his deep gratitude and appreciation for the hospitality extended to him and his accompanying delegation.
In his cables, Mohammed bin Salman said the “visit to our second country comes within the framework of the distinguished and special fraternal relations that bind our two countries and brotherly peoples, and the common desire to deepen cooperation in all fields under the leadership of King Salman,” reported the state-run Saudi Press Agency.
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