IOR/R/15/1/681

The volume contains correspondence between the India Office (Maurice Clauson), the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Hamilton R Ballantyne), the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven Fowle, Percy Gordon Loch) , the Political Agent at Bahrain (Percy Gordon Loch), and the Government of Bahrain (Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah, Charles Dalyrmple Belgrave) regarding the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO)’s wish to erect an oil refinery in Bahrain.

The primary subject of discussion in the volume is the Bahrain Petroleum Company’s interest in erecting a refinery in Bahrain; the possible markets for oil produced by it; the Admiralty’s interest in the potential value of access to petrol during wartime conditions; and the possibility of using a refinery in Bahrain to refine imported oil. Also discussed is the Company’s interest in securing further tax exemptions from the Bahrain Government in relation to establishing a refinery; an agreement to increase the minimum amount of royalty paid by BAPCO to the Bahrain Government; and the desire of the Shaikh of Bahrain to ensure that every effort would be made to employ Bahraini subjects at the refinery once complete.

Other matters discussed in the volume include:

• BAPCO’s intention of loaning American refinery construction workers from the Standard Oil Company of California to work on construction of the refinery at Bahrain, and arrangements with the British Consul-General in San Francisco (Cyril H Cane) for the issuing of visas to the relevant individuals;
• the drafting of a deed which would modify the mining lease between BAPCO and the Government of Bahrain in order to enable the erection of a refinery in Bahrain, and the procedures required for its signature in Bahrain. A copy of the original mining lease can be found at folios 6-16, and a copy of the deed modifying the lease can be found at folios 167-170.
• BAPCO’s intention of attempting to acquire some of the plant for the refinery from Germany and the need for the plant to be accompanied by 2 Germans to assist in its erection and to oversee the training of BAPCO staff in its use.

A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 213-217.