An independent consultant has been formally appointed to lead the investigation into a tragic incident at the Bapco Refining complex on May 2.
The incident, which involved process safety equipment, resulted in the death of two employees and one is critically injured, Bahrain News Agecny said.
The injured employee is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Salmaniya Medical Complex.
The investigation is in line with directives issued by the Boards of Directors of Bapco Energies and Bapco Refining.
To support the independent investigation, an internal Investigation Support Committee has been established to ensure the smooth and transparent facilitation of the investigation.
The committee will be responsible for enabling full access to all relevant information and materials, coordinating with concerned authorities, and ensuring timely communication with all relevant stakeholders. It will include representation from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Oil and Environment, Civil Defence, Bapco Energies, Bapco Refining, along with experts in safety and other technical disciplines.
Following the completion of the investigation, the final report issued by the independent investigation will be shared with all appropriate parties, the report added.
Earlier, On Friday, Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bapco Energies, expressed profound sorrow over the incident that occurred on the morning of May 2 at a unit within Bapco Refining.
Shaikh Nasser extended condolences to the families of the deceased, Bahraini employee Mohammed Mahmood Shehabi and Serbian employee Dijan Koka.
He confirmed Bapco Energies’ commitment to providing full support to the families of the deceased and those affected by the incident.
He commended the Ministry of Interior for the prompt response by its emergency teams, the General Directorate of Civil Defence, and Bapco Refining’s emergency units, noting their swift and coordinated handling of the situation in line with established protocols. All precautionary measures had been taken in accordance with the highest international safety and accident prevention standards, he added.
Bapco Refining had earlier said the leak had occurred in a safety valve in one of Bapco Refining's units.
The company stated that the situation is under full control, as the leak has been stopped and work has resumed. The focus remains on the safety of employees and contractors and the protection of the surrounding environment, affirming that the emergency teams are fully prepared to deal with any emergency if necessary.