Neste Oil, Bapco propose Bahrain lube plant

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 23 -- Finland's Neste Oil Corp. and Bahrain Petroleum Co. (Bapco) signed an agreement covering commercial terms for a proposal to design, build, and operate a plant to produce high-quality lubricant base oil at Bapco's Bahrain refinery.

Neste Jacobs Oy will complete the active design phase of the project within 6 months. The final decision on construction is expected during 2006. If built, the plant would come on stream during the first half of 2008.

It will be capable of producing 400,000 tonnes/year of sulfur-free, very high viscosity index base oil.

Bapco's low-sulfur diesel hydrocracker, due on stream in mid-2007, would provide feedstock. Neste Oil would market the lubricant base oil.