Bapco Energies, Bahrain’s state oil company, announced that the expanded Sitra refinery is slated for commissioning in the fourth quarter of this year.
Following the completion of core upgrades, the refinery's processing capacity will increase from 265,000 barrels per day (bpd) to nearly 400,000 bpd.
The modernisation project is poised to significantly enhance production efficiency of key fuel products: ultra-low sulphur diesel output is projected to jump by 72%, while jet fuel production will surge by 90%. Naphtha yield will also improve.
Strategic shifts in feedstock composition are integral to the expansion. Bapco plans to pivot from predominantly sweet Arab crude to heavier crude grades, leveraging the new residual hydrocracking units to unlock additional value.
In tandem with refining capacity gains, Bapco is preparing to scale up LNG procurement in 2026, targeting both spot and mid-term cargoes to meet increasing feedstock demand. Additionally, the company is advancing a joint venture plan with TotalEnergies to establish an integrated trading platform—building upon their recent trading-partner agreement.
This refinery upgrade reinforces Bahrain’s regional energy resilience, efficiency, and market competitiveness.
The combined capability enhancements and feedstock diversification are expected to bolster both domestic supply and export potential, positioning Bapco at the forefront of refining sophistication in the Gulf.
Bahrain’s Bapco gears up to launch upgraded Sitra Refinery
