IOR/L/PS/12/3947

The file covers various topics concerned with the oil industry at Bahrain, and the activities of the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO).

The papers include: variations in the oil output of the Bahrain Petroleum Company, as a result of commercial and wartime conditions, 1940-42, including correspondence concerning the need to preserve the revenues of the Government of Bahrain and the Ruler of Bahrain personally (e.g. folio 346); the construction of an oil pipeline from the coast of Saudi Arabia to the refinery at Bahrain, 1944, including maps; the provision of barges and tugs for the use of the company, including work on the construction of the refinery and deepwater berth at Ras Tanura [Ra’s Tannūrah], 1944; complaints from BAPCO about the quality of lighterage service provided by the British company Gray, Mackenzie and Company Limited, 1944-45, including correspondence concerning the need to keep lighterage at Bahrain in British hands (e.g. folio 212), and reports of complaints from passengers over services at Bahrain (e.g. folio 155); and miscellaneous matters, 1946-48. The papers show that Gray, Mackenzie and Company Limited undertook to improve service following the complaints, and their contract with BAPCO was maintained.

The file includes correspondence from the India Office; the Government of India; the Petroleum Department (later the Ministry of Fuel and Power (Petroleum Division)); the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Political Agent, Bahrain; BAPCO; and Gray, Mackenzie and Company Limited.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.