Under the Patronage of HE the Minister of Works Eng. Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf, the Ministry of Works, in coordination with the Embassy of Japan, held the Forum on Japanese Sanitary Engineering Expertise at the Bahrain Society for Engineers. The event was attended by HE the Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry Mr. Toru Doi, the Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain H.E. Mr. Shigeki Sumi, and HE the Deputy President of The Bahrain-Japan Business & Friendship Society Nasser Al Arayedh.
At the beginning of the forum, the Minister of Works delivered the opening speech, in which he said that the forum will undoubtedly be a great opportunity for all to benefit from the Japanese expertise in the field of technologies needed to provide the best solutions related to the sanitary engineering field in general and the cleaning Tubli Bay in particular.
‘The forum will also coincide with the organization of specialized workshops; aiming to form partnerships between Bahraini and Japanese institutions,’ he said.
In his speech, the Minister commended the strong rapport between Manama and Tokyo on the commercial, economic and industrial levels, also paying tribute to the admirable role played by the Embassy of Japan in strengthening the relations between the two countries by increasing the visits of Japanese Businessmen to Bahrain and organizing meetings between them and their Bahraini peers, which is always an invaluable opportunity to increase commercial exchanges and enhance investments.
During the forum, a brief presentation highlighted the sanitary sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which is responsible for upgrading and improving sewerage networks, sewage treatment plants and rainwater drainage networks. The sector is also responsible for ensuring the safety, efficiency and maintenance of all sanitary projects, including all main and secondary networks and pumping stations.
The forum also shed light on the problems facing the sanitary engineering sector, one of which is Tubli Bay and the need to clean it. The Ministry explained in details the work mechanism at Tubli Sewage Treatment Plant and the expansion project, which is one of the most important strategic projects implemented by the Ministry of Works; aiming to increase the capacity of the plant to 400,000m3/day.
A presentation was also delivered highlighting the 3rd thermal sludge drying line at Tubli WPCC. Reference was also made to the solar drying technology, which reduces sludge and eventually produces what can either be dumped or used as fertilizer; therefore improving environment and controlling odors.
The forum referred to Muharraq Sewage treatment Plant Project, which is implemented by the Ministry of Works in partnership with the private sector. Experts commended the project; referring to it as a vital project complementing the urban boom that the Kingdom is presently witnessing. The project will serve Muharraq and produce water suitable for agricultural and industrial uses, in addition to improving the environmental situation, reducing the emission of gas and odors and reducing floods; using the Micro Tunneling Technology.
At last, the Minister called for further coordination with officials at the Japanese Embassy to follow-up the activation of the agreement; therefore working towards benefitting the case of Tubli Bay through coordination with all concerned governmental bodies in the Kingdom.
