THE following are the achievements of the National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) last year.

• Law No 2 for 2008 was issued approving the two exploration and production sharing agreements signed between the Kingdom of Bahrain, Occidental, US and PTTEP, Thailand.
•  Bahrain Field was tendered to international oil companies (IOCs) for development and production enhancement and following the completion of technical evaluation was awarded to Occidental.
• Launch of natural gas exploration project in deep layers of Bahrain Field to meet domestic needs of natural gas.
• Signing an agreement to set up Banagas Expansion Project, one of Noga Holding’s associate companies.
• HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s approval to allocate a plot of land adjacent to the Bahrain Financial Harbour to construct the Noga headquarters (Energy Building).
•  Signing a framework agreement with Edama to build the Energy Building.
•  Completion of strategic projects plan aimed to develop oil resources in the kingdom including plans and projects related to Noga and its associates.
•  External participation in several events, such as World Energy Forum, Jeddah Energy Meeting and London Meeting for Energy.
•  Meeting CEOs and representatives of regional and international oil companies operating in the oil and power fields.
•  Organising 13 international oil exhibitions and conferences in Kingdom of Bahrain.
•  Royal Decree no (6) for 2008 was issued on new appointments at Noga, naming Dr Ahmed Ali Al Sharyan as Noga’s general secretary and appointing new general managers.
•  Noga participated in joint committees geared to develop and upgrade work as well as preserving energy. There are eight main committees.
•  Eight publications, brochures and studies were released.

International Oil Cooperation
•  Signing an agreement with ExxonMobil on the ideal exploitation of gas in the kingdom.
•  Signing a memorandum for cooperation on the feasibility study to establish a wharf for imports of liquefied natural gas.
•  Signing a framework agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran to import gas to the kingdom.
•  Signing a cooperation agreement between Noga and Russian Brum Gas.