Biodiversity

Biodiversity concerns the health of plants, animals and the ecosystems of which they are a part. Maintenance of the health of an ecosystem is a component of sustainable development, which underpins economic development and prosperity, and helps develop locally distinctive and sustainable communities.

GRI 103-01, 103-02, 103-03: Management approach

We thoroughly assess the impact of our projects to evaluate any biodiversity impact. For instance, prior to the start of BMP two assessments were conducted on biodiversity: an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) that focused on the broader potential environmental impact of BMP, and a Critical Habitats Assessment (CHA) which focused specifically on the potential impact of BMP on the biodiversity of the surrounding areas and identified appropriate mitigation measures. In addition, and specifically for BMP, a Biodiversity Strategy Document and Biodiversity Action Plan were produced to ensure the prevention of any adverse impacts on biodiversity that might result from the construction work.

GRI 304-01: Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas

In 2021 Bapco conducted an ecological baseline study of the Arad Bay lagoon. This baseline study will serve to understand improvements in ecological habitats after Bapco’s efforts in transplanting mangroves in the area. Subsequently, Bapco transplanted 772 mangrove seedlings cultivated at Bapco’s Mangrove Nursery at the Refinery to different areas within Arad Bay. Once the mangrove stands reach maturity, another ecological study will be conducted to assess the changes to the local habitat. Not only will this study serve Bapco but will provide insight to suitable environments for mangrove transplantation, which aligns with the national plan to quadruple mangrove coverage and reach net-zero by 2060.

GRI 304-02: Significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity

Direct Impacts

With the development of BMP came the requirement to construct a new pipe bridge crossing the Ma’ameer Channel, a protected seawater canal to the East of Bapco’s Refinery, connecting Tubli Bay to the sea South of Bapco’s Refinery. Removal of some 30 mature mangrove trees was a requirement to construct the new pipe bridge crossing. The Ma’ameer Channel is frequented by migratory birds during the winter breeding season in Bahrain. Bapco has pledged to offset the removal of these mangroves and recreate a similar habitat in nearby Ras Sanad Mangrove Reserve in Tubli Bay as well as Arad Bay Reserve in Muharraq.

The marine ecosystem South of Bapco has seen degradation over the past 40 years. Our marine assessment studies which have been ongoing for 40 years indicate that lead and other petrochemical pollutants used in our refining process and which might contributed to this impact, have decreased significantly. Coral and sea grass loss continues due to the increasing land reclamation and dredging activities outside Bapco’s direct control. Bapco, however, is an active stakeholder in elevated governmental discussions and continues to raise sustainable, sciencebased alternatives in discussions of major projects.

Indirect Impacts

Refining activities can have indirect impacts on biodiversity such as acid rain and exposure to hazardous air pollutants, however, there is no data which attribute this to Bapco activities. Bapco ensures to comply with all relevant air quality and effluent regulations and industrial best practices and continues to put all necessary measures in place to ensure that the commitment of the protection of the environment is met in line with Bapco’s EHS Policy.

GRI 304-03: Habitats protected or restored Ras Sanad Mangrove Stands in Tubli Bay Reserve

In coordination with the SCE, Bapco is conducting regular clean-up activities along the shorelines of the Ras Sanad Mangrove Stands. Bapco is also engaged in restoring degraded mangrove stands within Ras Sanad by transplanting new mangrove seedlings grown in Bapco’s dedicated mangrove nursery.

Arad Bay Reserve

Bapco conducted an Environmental Baseline Study in Arad Bay Reserve prior to commencement of its mangrove transplantation project in the same area. The study aims to assess the ecological baseline in Arad Bay, which will later enable the detection of changes potentially induced by the mangrove transplanting process through examining specific indicator taxa and standard biodiversity indices. The results of this study shall be incorporated in the long-term monitoring programs to assess the effects of the mangrove transplantation project on marine biodiversity.

Following the baseline study, Bapco undertook a major mangrove transplantation project in Arad Bay Reserve to offset mangrove loss due to the construction of the new BMP pipe bridge in Ma’ameer Channel. A total of 772 mangrove stands were transplanted in the Bay in August 2021, and Bapco actively monitors the health of these stands on a weekly basis. The baseline monitoring programme is expected to continue for the next 15 years.

Ma’ameer Channel Protected Area

In recent governmental decisions to widen the Ma’ameer Channel, Bapco successfully lobbied to place mitigation measures which ensure construction activities have minimal effect on mature mangrove stands which were planted by Bapco in the past. The mangrove stands are in an intertidal zone close to Bapco’s Outfall area and frequented by sea birds. The widening activities of the Channel will now include culvert pipes to ensure hydrodynamic flow surrounding the intertidal zone and reduce the risk of habitat degradation.

In coordination with the SCE, Bapco is conducting regular clean-up activities along the high level security fence installed at Ma’ameer Channel. The clean up activities started in January 2021 and have been continuing since then. The clean-up includes the removal of excess algae, debris, general waste and any other material which is accumulates along the fence and potentially obstruct the flow of water through the channel. Bapco additionally participates in clean-up activities for the area that are organised by third parties, such as RECSO. These activities align with BMP stakeholder engagement efforts to ensure that the surrounded communities, including the Ma’ameer area, can live in a clean environment with a good quality of life.

GRI 304-04: IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations

We have classified the IUCN red list species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by our operations under two level of extinction risk: near threatened and least concern. Refer to the below table which lists all species by level of threat.

Near threatened Species

Bar-tailed Godwit

Eurasian Curlew

Least concern : Water bird species

Great Cormorant

Western Reef Heron

Great White Egret

Grey Heron

Greater Flamingo

Black-winged Stilt

Common Ringed Plover

Kentish Plover

Lesser Sand Plover

Greater Sand Plover

Pacific Golden Plover

Grey Plover

Little Stint

Temminck’s Stint

Dunlin

Broad-billed Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper

Whimbrel

Spotted Redshank

Common Redshank

Marsh Sandpiper

Common Greenshank

Terek Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Ruddy Turnstone

Black-headed Gull

Slender-billed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Caspian Tern

Lesser Crested Tern

White-cheeked Tern

Saunders’s Tern

Least concern: Non-water bird species

House Sparrow

White-eared Bulbul

Crested Lark

Collared Dove

Common Myna

House Crow

Collared Pratincole

Bee-eater

Barn Swallow

Common Kestrel

Cattle Egret

Yellow Wagtail

“Bapco undertook a major mangrove transplantation project in the Arad Bay Reserve

Species of wading bird at Arad Bay, where Bapco has supported the planting of mangroves

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