Bahrain focus

Bahrain has invested billions in its transport links.
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It would be churlish to write about Bahrain without mentioning the rebounding energy sector. Recently Dr Abdulhussain Mirza, the oil and gas affairs minister for Bahrain has said that the kingdom is planning to invest US$20 billion in the development of its hydrocarbons sector. As US$5 billion of this will be used to bring existing facilities up to date, it is likely that there will be work for heavy lift subcontractors, as well as work for regular cranes and equipment.

“We have started in earnest the modernisation process in Bahrain over the last few years after Noga came into existence in 2005,” Dr Mirza is reported as saying.

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Besides the road network, Bahrain has reasonable infrastructure, but it is clear that it is struggling with the island’s ambitious plans demand. The power grid, for example could just barely cope with the load put on it over the summer. Works Minister Fahmi Al Jowder said ealier this year that efforts were underway to limit the problem.

“People shouldn’t be blaming us for the cuts because the weather then reached 52C and I don’t believe any machine can withstand it,” he said. “Yes, we are trying to limit cuts, but it is impossible to stop them because anything may go wrong with the machines or the network.”

There were ambitious plans to develop the Tubli power plant, but the economic crisis has put this on hold for the time being.

Operators

Though the country prides itself on it’s human rights record, and that employees are allowed to unionise and no longer sponsored by their employers, it must be noted that Bahrain lags behind the UAE in terms of employee protection. Workers are still routinely carted about in open trucks, despite a ban on the practice. More seriously, overcrowded living quarters, with no proper cooking facilities have resulted in a number of horrific fires. Apart from this, some contractors have been caught in shocking HSE violations.

One was found to be using workers as counterweights when proof loading an elevator. Lead contractors are advised to watch subcontractors carefully for this kind of practice.

Factsheet: Kalifa Bin Salman Port
• Opened April 2009
• Wide range of port handling equipment, notably ZPMC rail mounted cranes.
• Capacity of 1.1 million TEU (containers) Possibility of expanding up to 3 million TEU These all need to be moved by heavy trucks.
• Allows easy movement of machinery, parts and other freight to Saudi and Qatar, as well as to new markets such as Kuwait and Iraq.
• Adjacent to a large industrial area.