Manama, Feb. 4 (BNA): In collaboration with Bapco Refining, a division of Bapco Energies, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) conducted a joint field exercise “Jahezya 2” to respond to oil leak events.
SCE, Bapco Refining, GPIC, Alba conduct joint field exercise “Jahezya 2” for oil spill response
In addition to improving cooperation between the SCE and pertinent authorities in handling marine environmental catastrophes and safeguarding coastal ecosystems in the Kingdom, the exercise sought to evaluate the efficacy of response plans for oil spill incidents at the three businesses’ facilities.
The exercise is being carried out as part of a comprehensive national plan to improve the effectiveness of response to marine pollution accidents caused by oil and other hazardous substances, according to Amna Hamad Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the SCE. The plan entails creating and maintaining emergency plans for oil spill situations, carrying out frequent drills to evaluate the efficiency of the tools and resources at hand, and guaranteeing prompt and efficient reaction in environmental catastrophes.
In collaboration with the National Committee for Disaster Response’s Executive Office, the exercise was carried out directly under the SCE’s supervision, Al Rumaihi continued. In order to test incident reporting procedures, communication and coordination protocols between the Council, participating companies, and pertinent authorities, as well as containment, removal, and rehabilitation operations for the affected area, the exercise replicated an oil spill from a supply line at Bapco Refining Port.
She emphasized that the exercise demonstrates the Council’s dedication to strengthening national readiness and developing human and technical capabilities for managing oil spill situations. She also emphasized the beneficial collaboration with partners in the public and private sectors and their crucial contribution to the Kingdom’s marine environment protection initiatives.
According to Dr. Abdulrahman Jawahery, CEO of Bapco Refining and Acting Managing Director of Bapco Energies, the joint exercise “Jahezya 2” marks a significant turning point in the country’s efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s capacity to handle environmental crises. As a key component of Bapco Refining’s strategy in sustainability, environmental protection, and ensuring the Kingdom’s environmental safety, he continued, it is consistent with the company’s commitment to support national efforts to enhance preparedness and effective response to environmental emergencies.
According to Jawahery, the exercise demonstrates advanced cooperation between Bapco Refining and its national partners, such as the SCE, Alba, and GPIC, through coordination, knowledge sharing, and increasing field and technical preparedness for quick response to marine spill incidents, guaranteeing Bahrain’s highest standards of safety and coastal and marine environmental protection.
Bapco Refining’s dedication to upholding a robust and dependable emergency response infrastructure is reflected in his statement that increasing awareness of the significance of frequent response drills is a top priority for the organization, which focuses on improving communication channels and interoperability among teams. In order to improve operational preparedness and response capability, he pointed out that the exercise was planned with numerous goals, including strengthening communication and coordination, improving organizational cooperation and readiness, verifying the emergency plans of participating companies, and ensuring compliance with national regulations regarding oil spill incidents.
Jawahery expressed gratitude to all participating and supporting organizations, emphasizing that cooperation and ongoing coordination are crucial to guaranteeing prompt and efficient response to environmental incidents, safeguarding marine resources, and assisting the Kingdom’s endeavors to attain high levels of environmental sustainability.
According to the highest authorized environmental standards, GPIC’s CEO, Yasser Abdulrahim Al Abbasi, confirmed that the company’s involvement in the joint oil spill response exercise demonstrates its dedication to assisting national initiatives to safeguard the marine and coastal environment and fortify the Kingdom’s integrated emergency response system.
The CEO of Alba, Ali Al Baqali, stated that since the company’s operations started in the 1970s and it relies on its marine port in Sitra to receive raw materials, safeguarding the marine and coastal environment has been a crucial component of its institutional culture and sustainability approach as an essential part of its national responsibility.
Al Baqali also took delight in his involvement in “Jahezya 2” and the successful results that came from the efficient coordination of teams from different participating entities and domestic businesses. In addition to praising the technical and field teams’ performance, which showed their readiness and capacity to apply best international practices in effectively and professionally handling environmental incidents, he emphasized that the collaboration resulted in a high degree of integration and team spirit.
The “Jahezya 2” exercise is a significant step toward strengthening the Kingdom of Bahrain’s position as a regional leader in industrial emergency management and marine environmental protection, as well as strengthening national capacity to address environmental challenges and improving overall preparedness across sectors.
