International reports: Bahrain is an economically efficient country in improving energy use

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Bahrain stands out as an economically efficient country in improving energy use despite its limited geographic resources. At a time when the Arab Gulf countries are competing in the volume of investments in renewable energy, Bahrain adds a qualitative dimension to this work, as the Kingdom focuses on industrial modernization (such as the Bapco refinery and Bahrain Aluminum) to reduce the carbon footprint while ensuring stable energy security through natural gas. Reports issued by the Energy Institute and the International Energy Agency (IEA) for the year 2025 reflect Bahrain’s success in balancing its role as a producer. and oil refinery and its environmental commitments to reach zero neutrality by 2060.

In the latest update of the data available on the website of the Energy Institute and the International Energy Agency, the Energy Institute reported last June that the Kingdom recorded a slight growth in energy demand by approximately 1.2% during the year 2024, indicating that natural gas is still the highest consumption by 100% for electricity generation, with the consumption of petroleum products in the transportation sector stabilizing.

The report indicated that gas production in Bahrain has witnessed a cumulative increase of approximately 110% since 2000, which reflects ongoing efforts to meet growing industrial demand, especially in the aluminum sector.

As for the International Energy Agency’s report, the detailed data of which was updated in October 2025 as part of the updates to country indicators, the agency monitored an improvement in the “energy intensity” of Bahrain’s economy by 18% since 2000, which means that Bahrain has begun to produce greater economic value for every unit of energy it consumes.

The report indicated that energy-related carbon dioxide emissions have reached about 36 million tons (based on 2023-2024 data), which represents only 0.1% of global emissions, despite the intensity of emissions per capita, as the residential sector consumes electricity at a rate of 90% of its total energy consumption, as a result of total dependence on electrical cooling.

In the latest Oil and Gas Outlook Report (IEA Oil Market Report), which was published in December 2025, it touched on the Kingdom’s achievements in developing downstream industries, specifically refineries. The agency praised the operation of the Bapco refinery modernization program at full capacity, which raised the refining capacity from 267,000 to 380,000 barrels per day, and stressed that this project positioned Bahrain as a developed regional center for exporting high-quality petroleum products (such as low-sulfur diesel).

But Bahrain also sought to develop its production in renewable energy, as the International Energy Agency report confirmed that Bahrain is on its way to achieving its national goal of renewable energy contributing 5% to the energy mix by the end of 2025, and raising it to 10% by 2035, pointing to the success of the solar energy project in Khalifa bin Salman Port with a capacity of 11.5 megawatts, which began its actual operation as a model of sustainability in the logistics sector at the initiative of APM Terminals Bahrain, which made The port is 100% self-sufficient in energy using solar panels covering the warehouses, reducing carbon emissions by 65% and making it the first port in the region to operate entirely on renewable energy.

Bahrain has recorded an 18% improvement in energy efficiency since the year 2000. Bahrain stands out among the countries that rely most on natural gas for nearly 100% to generate electricity, but it is considered the lowest in the total amount of emissions (about 36 million tons) in the Arabian Gulf region, due to the area and population.

The report stressed Bahrain’s commitment to reaching zero neutrality by 2060, and the Kingdom stands out as an economically efficient country in improving energy use despite its limited geographical resources, according to the report.