AS economic development gathers pace in line with Economic Vision 2030, Bahrain Aviation Fuelling Company (Bafco) is doing its part to expand aircraft fuelling infrastructure at Bahrain International Airport (BIA) in anticipation of significant passenger and cargo traffic growth.
In this regard, Bafco is aligning its workforce, training and development initiatives with the government’s Vision 2030. Bafco is ideally placed to comfortably adapt to this new economic era and consistently deliver impeccable fuel services in a world of increasing change. The Minister of Energy and chairman of the National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) Dr Abdul-Hussain bin Ali Mirza says aviation is a vital cog in the kingdom’s interlinked, integrated economy, facilitating close commercial links between Bahrain and the rest of the world and enhancing the country’s global reputation.
“In many ways, Bafco’s evolution has mirrored the nation’s economic development, and as the government implements the various components of Vision 2030, its national strategic importance will be strengthened,” he explains.
Aviation is a key growth industry earmarked by the government of Bahrain in its Economic Vision 2030 master plan and as part of this a phased expansion of facilities at BIA has already started.
This infrastructure project of national importance will significantly increase annual passenger capacity. By 2014, there will be a total of 110 aircraft stands, including 17 new remote aircraft parking bays. Annual cargo handling capacity will also increase in line with the anticipated strong demand.
As the airport grows, the demand for jet fuel will increase. Fuel demand at BIA is forecasted to double in the next five years alone. Bafco is meeting the challenge through ongoing investment in manpower and state-of-the-art facilities to both enhance standards and to provide its shareholders and their airline customers with the most efficient and safe fuelling operation going forward.
“Bafco is pivotal to Vision 2030. A safe, efficient, world-class aircraft fuelling operation not only contributes significant revenues to the economy but also polishes the kingdom’s image internationally. Because of its uncompromising approach to safety, quality and operational excellence, Bafco has never suffered any fuel-related incident, and its many achievements in this field are recognised through numerous regional and international awards,” he says.
Bafco chairman Abdul Rahman Abdulla Kamal says: “Vision 2030 is a shining beacon towards which Bafco is aiming. We are aligning our investments and operations to meet the government’s objectives for the future of BIA. It is imperative that, to deliver on our responsibilities, Bafco must embrace change as well as continue doing the very things that have served us so well up to now,” he adds.
To meet immediate demand over the next few years, Bafco is set to commission the newly expanded fuelling facilities to supply the Remote Apron Stands development. The project comprises eight new stands each capable of handling at least one Code ‘E’ or Boeing 747 size aircraft, with some rated for larger Code ‘F’ aircraft such as the new Airbus A380.
In addition, the airport authority has designed the stands to provide even more flexibility using a Multiple Aircraft Ramp “Mars” configuration, where any one of the eight large stands can be use for two smaller Code ‘C’ type aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 or Airbus 320.
