Community Impacts

We manage our community impacts through a variety of measures that include social impact assessment and local community development.

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

We continue to work closely with our community via our CSR programme that includes:

• Creation of job opportunities at all levels for Bahrainis;

• A structured training and development programme for all employees;

• Empowering women and promotion of senior job opportunities for women;

• An active wellbeing programme encompassing a range of public health issues;

• EHS community awareness programs through school and home visits;

• Close cooperation with non-governmental organisations to understand their needs; and

• Sponsorships for various events/programs relating to sustainability.

BMP, as an internationally funded project of national importance, closely monitors social issues and actively manages any emerging community impacts. We have a dedicated project team that includes a Social Performance Officer and Community Liaison Officers.

GRI 413-01: Operations with local community engagement, impact assessments and development programs

All our major projects are subject to social impact assessment. We publish the latest social, environment and cumulative impact assessments on our website.

As part of the BMP social impact assessment, we have developed a stakeholder engagement plan, which provides for events and activities to be shared via social media. Our plan complies with international financing performance standards on environmental and social responsibility.

We have a local community development programme that encompasses comprehensive job creation and training. We have continued to hire and train technicians and operators throughout the reporting period. We have adapted our teaching methods to a balance between virtual and in-class learning to avoid any interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide a pipeline of skilled employees for the new BMP process units.

We have put in a place a social grievance mechanism for BMP with an online form and communication channels for contacting Bapco that includes a ‘hotline’, e-mail address and provision for face-to-face meetings.

GRI 413-02: Operations with significant actual and potential negative impacts on local communities

BMP creates potential negative impacts on local communities (refer to 102-44 Key topics and concerns raised, page 46). To mitigate, Bapco conducts a social impact assessment to identify any negative impacts that might exist and to develop mitigation actions. Some example mitigation actions are described in the section below.

Degree of physical or economic isolation of the local community

Bahrain is largely dependent on oil and gas for its national income. Bahrain has had a petroleum-based economy since 1937; the industry accounts for 11% of GDP and approximately 70% of government revenue. 10% of the oil is consumed locally and the rest is exported. Commissioning of BMP will significantly contribute to these future revenues and therefore the project can be considered to have a strong positive impact on reducing physical or economic isolation.

Level of socioeconomic development, including the degree of gender equality within the community

Bapco is encouraging women participation throughout our organisation. Bapco has a strategic goal for complying with the stated national plan of empowering women, led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa and Supreme Council for Women.

One of the strategic visions of Bapco is to develop the local community. For example, building the capacity of the local individuals by providing scholarships for the internal employees and public individuals. The Oil & Gas Academy admits school graduates from both male and female genders and provides them with an oil and gas diploma that will allow them to work in Bapco. We additionally offer advanced technical courses to different stakeholders, including contractors and subcontractors.

We conduct various campaigns to provide for the needs of local communities, and support the local authorities to serve the community. Recently, Bapco has approved more than 10 projects to serve different public / community categories, and executed one project for the conversion of Eker Garden to be the first sustainable garden in the Capital Municipality. Bapco has additionally installed 30 Sustainable Solar Benches serving different areas of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

State of socioeconomic infrastructure, including health and education infrastructure

Bapco has written to the relevant authorities requesting confirmation that all dwellings within the BMP project area of influence have access to electricity and water, and coverage has been confirmed verbally by the Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority. Bapco has also conducted a socio-economic survey of surrounding communities impacted by the BMP project site, to provide baseline socio-economic data for Bapco to incorporate into its social impact assessment and stakeholder engagement plan.

We have created a welfare programme that contractors are required to adhere to, for the protection of workers rights. Contractors are required to provide all the necessary services and infrastructure for worker welfare, including sources of drinking water, and sanitary and washing facilities. They must provide induction training, including training on worker rights, project policies and procedures and cultural awareness. We conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance.

Proximity to operations

Our facilities are located to the East of Bahrain on the Arabian Gulf coast, to the south of Sitra Island and approximately 10 km south of Manama. The Refinery first operated in 1936, and so there is a long history of Refinery operations across multiple generations that we are aware of when considering Refinery impact on the community.

Level of social organisation

Social organisation (i.e. the strength of relationships between individuals and communities) has also given great attention by Bapco. We have a CSR annual plan for our community events. For BMP, there is a dedicated team for welfare and social issues. This dedication and effort reflects the importance that the company places on these social issues.

Strength and quality of the governance of local and national institutions around local communities

We are proud of our continued compliance with the local regulations for the environment, culture and labour. Bapco has recently also achieved compliance with International Standards of World Bank. The integration between local and international standards has enabled us to pioneer best practices that minimise our community impacts across the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Some examples of our initiatives are given below.

Use of hazardous substances that impact the environment and human health in general, and specifically impact reproductive health. Refining operations use chemicals and catalysts. All undergo risk assessment prior to use in order to identify if there are any risks to the environment or human health. We maintain an EHS legal risks register to evaluate our compliance (refer to Compliance with Customer Standards and 417-01, page 61).

Volume and Type of pollution released. Bapco’s EHS policy includes a commitment to the protection of the environment. All external releases to the environment are monitored and reported as per local regulations.

Status as major employer in the local community. We are proud of our positive employment track record within the region. We are very pleased to contribute to Bahrainisation through providing local opportunities for training and academic scholarships.

Land conversion and resettlement. Bapco’s operations and related projects do not result in resettlement or land conversion. All our activities and projects are confined to existing company or government property.

Natural resource consumption. We invest heavily in reducing our natural resource consumption, for example our use of both extracted groundwater and sea water (refer to 303-03 page 89) and the use of solar power to supplement the use of conventional fuels (refer to 302-01 page 82).