H.E. the Minister of Oil & Gas Affairs and chairman of the National Oil & Gas Authority (NOGA), Dr. Abdul-Hussain bin Ali Mirza, visited the Awali Park site on Tuesday, December 22, to inspect work on a unique recreational and educational community project being developed by Bapco. He was accompanied by Bapco Acting Chief Executive Faisal Al-Mahroos and members of the project steering committee.

Dr. Mirza was received by General Manager – Maintenance and project leader, Hussain Al-Ansari, who briefed him on progress of the 46,000 square metre Awali Park, the foundation stone for which was officially laid on May 21 this year during a visit to Bapco by H.R.H. Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, the wife of H.M. King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Women.

Dr. Mirza met the project team and contractor representatives at Dar Al-Nakheel. The project team consists of Jalal Khalaf, Mahmood Ahmed, Rayan Askar, A. Hadi Al-Attar, Aziz Sohrab, Hafedh Shehabi, Sastry Vemoarala, Bishnu Prasad, Naji Rahim, Yousif Karimi, Mohamed Juma, Ali Shaheen, Solomon Teniola, Jeff Protomartir, Louis Rodrigues, and Salman Habib.

Work on the Awali Park is expected to be completed by mid-February 2010. The park will feature flora native to Bahrain, including different species of palm trees and other trees such as pomegranate, Terminalia Catappa, Magnifera Indica, citrus lemon, Azadiratchta Indica, Royal Poinciana, Jacaranda and many other varieties of trees and bushes that grow in the Kingdom. The park will also have water features, pavilions, playgrounds for children and exercise areas, primarily for the benefit of Bapco employees and the public.

The Minister also received an update on a renewable energy module to be installed at the park. The New Energy Management Lab will be manufactured in Germany by Berlin-based Heliocentric Energiesysteme GmbH, and is expected to be installed in the park in February 2010. It will be the first facility of its kind in the Kingdom, using fuel cell, wind mill and photo electric cells to generate 5kW of electricity which will power lighting and equipment in Dar Al-Nakheel at Awali Park. The Lab is being developed in line with Bapco’s objectives to conserve energy and increase public awareness on the use of renewable energy.

The Minister praised the project team for its high level of motivation in the execution of this highly demanding project with tight deadlines. He expressed his satisfaction with the progress made since his last visit. He stated that he was confident that the project will finish on time despite the demanding deadline and that the project will prove to be a big success.

The Acting Chief Executive also expressed his gratitude to the team members for their excellent effort and teamwork exhibited in the execution of this highly visible project.

The project leader gave a short speech after the tour and thanked the Minister and Mr. Al-Mahroos for their visit and encouraging words, which will serve to further teamwork and enhance its synergy in pursuit of excellence.

H.E. Dr. Abdul-Hussain bin Ali Mirza looks at the plans for Awali Park during his visit

Dr. Mirza and members of Bapco’s management during the visit to the park