A major push is underway to relocate long-standing scrapyards in Bahrain’s south, as authorities move to unlock a potentially significant oil discovery and modernise the sector.
The Southern Municipality has formally called on scrapyard operators to vacate their current sites and begin relocation procedures to a new designated area in Hafeera, as part of a broader regulatory and development plan, by the end of June.
Southern Municipal Council services and public utilities committee chairman and area councillor Ali Al Shaikh said the move was gaining momentum following intensified co-ordination between authorities.
Mr Al Shaikh
“We have begun taking practical steps on the ground to facilitate the transition,” he told GDN. “I personally conducted an inspection visit to the new site alongside an engineer from the Works Ministry, where we reviewed the required procedures to ensure a smooth relocation process.”
He confirmed that an official notice had been placed at the current scrapyard site on Road 96, outlining relocation plans and providing contact channels for existing beneficiaries.
“The priority in allocating plots at the new location will be given to long-standing scrapyard operators,” he added. “We are keen to ensure fairness while also advancing this long-overdue reorganisation.”
The new scrapyard site, located south of Hafeera in Block 959, is being developed in three phases according to an approved timeline.
Mr Al Shaikh explained that the first phase includes 30 plots, followed by a second phase of 60 larger plots designed to better accommodate business needs.
He noted that surrounding infrastructure will also be significantly upgraded.
“The adjacent area, particularly Crusher Road, will undergo comprehensive development works including road improvements, installation of lighting and enhanced safety and security measures,” he said.
He also revealed that the council is considering introducing a classification system at the new scrapyard, whereby vehicles would be organised by brand.
“This would replace the current random layout and make it far easier for customers to locate spare parts,” he said. “It is a model successfully implemented in neighbouring countries such as Kuwait and the UAE.”
The relocation drive comes amid renewed focus on a previously discovered onshore oil reserve near Askar, which councillors believe could be larger than initially estimated.
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif stressed that clearing the scrapyards was now critical to enabling energy exploration.
Mr Abdullatif
“This is not just a municipal issue, it is a national priority,” he said. “We are talking about a resource that could significantly contribute to Bahrain’s economy, and any obstacles must be addressed decisively.”
Earlier estimates suggested the reserve could contain between three to four million barrels of oil, but officials have indicated the figure may be considerably higher. However, exploration efforts have been hindered by around 100 sprawling scrapyards occupying the site, some of which have operated for decades.
Authorities have now set a target to clear the area by the end of June, paving the way for Bapco Energies to begin excavation works.
Mr Abdullatif said many scrapyard owners had already begun signing relocation agreements with the Southern Municipality prior to recent regional tensions.
“We have seen positive co-operation from a number of operators, and we expect this to continue,” he said. “This transition is ultimately in everyone’s interest – economically, environmentally and from a public safety perspective.”
The scrapyards, originally established in a remote area near Alba decades ago, have increasingly come under scrutiny due to rapid urban expansion and repeated safety concerns, including fires and hazardous material storage.
Councillors say the relocation will not only support strategic energy projects but also create a more organised, safer and modern scrapyard industry in Bahrain.
“This is about turning a long-standing challenge into an opportunity,” Mr Abdullatif said. “We are building a system that works better for businesses, customers and the country as a whole.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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