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Bahrain reveals plan for $815m airport expansion Bahrain’s prime minister has announced the details of a planned $815 million expansion of Bahrain International Airport. The plans comprise seven key projects, including a new passenger terminal, 24 air bridges, new arrival and departure lounges and airport ‘aprons’, where planes are parked, unloaded and refuelled. It is intended to increase capacity at the airport to 17 million passengers a year, up from 4 million at present. The expansion will be completed by the first quarter of 2019. The airport scheme will also include housing, infrastructure, electricity, water, health, social development and roads. – Arabian Business 10
Gulf Insider September 2015
Oman oil production climbs above 1m bpd in July Oman’s crude oil and condensate production rose to more than 1 million barrels per day in July for the first time in its history, the oil and gas ministry said in a report. The sultanate has been ramping up oil production despite a global supply glut that has hit oil prices, with the Gulf Arab country looking to compensates for the drop in its oil revenue. “The average daily production rate during July exceeded the barrier of 1 million barrels for the first time in the history of Oman’s oil industry,” the ministry said. Total oil output was up 0.5 percent from June, producing 894,156 bpd of crude oil and 106,926 bpd of condensate. The month’s crude exports reached 796,977 bpd, with all shipments going to the Asian market, while supplying 163,062 bpd to domestic refiner Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company. Though a small non-OPEC oil producer, Oman’s crude oil forms part of the benchmark price for millions of barrels per day of exports from Middle East producers to Asia. – Gulf Business News
Building permits increase 7pc in Bahrain A seven per cent increase in construction permits was recorded in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year, as reported by the Information Ministry. This reflects investor confidence in Bahrain and the government’s development efforts. - Trade Arabia