GROWING numbers of French businesses are investing heavily in Bahrain, according to a top diplomat.
They are pumping money into infrastructure projects, water treatment, transport and electricity distribution networks as part of increased co-operation between Paris and Manama.
French Ambassador Christian Testot said the investments include a new Eymeris aluminium plant, which is scheduled to open in December and an Air Liquide factory, which will produce carbonic gas for soft drinks.
“In the last 12 months, we have seen huge investments from French businesses into Bahrain, so this is an exciting time,” he told the GDN.
“French companies are interested in tenders for public transportation, the airport extension and energy.
“We also hope to attract Bahraini businesses to France and discussions are underway.”
Meanwhile, French Embassy economic counsellor Frederic Mettetal urged the government to grant the final green light for a multi-million dinar domestic waste incinerator.
The factory, near the Askar landfill site, aims to deal with an estimated 150,000 tonnes of waste produced in Bahrain every year.
An agreement was signed between the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry and France-based CNIM Group, which dates back to 2008.
The firm pledged to raise $450 million to build the factory and will operate the system for the first 25 years, employing hundreds of people from France and Bahrain.
In return, the ministry agreed to pay the company BD45 per tonne of waste disposed.
In July 2011, the company submitted an environmental impact assessment report to the General Directorate of Environment and Wildlife Protection (GDEWP) – the last stage of the planning process.
The environmental protection agency was set to respond within 60 days and CNIM was hoping to start building later that year.
Eighteen months later, the company is still waiting for approval from the authorities.
“CNIM can’t start the project because the assessment is still with the GDEWP,” explained Mr Mettetal.
“The company needs to start raising the money as soon as possible by approaching private and public investors, but nothing can be done until the company has this environmental licence.
“No one will put money on the table until they have this green light.
“The fact is, we don’t see where the problem is. This technology is used all over the world.
“Today, Bahrain is dumping waste in a landfill site which is going to be completely full by 2016, just three years from now.
“The factory will take two to three years to build, so we need to get moving on this as soon as possible.
“If we don’t start right now it will not be ready when the dump site is full. What will they do then?
“Everything is ready to go; it is just this environment licence.
Push
“We are pushing at all levels and we are trying to meet the authorities, it is a very unfriendly position towards CNIM, who are well-respected pioneers in their field.
“If they want to say no, let them say no. But we don’t understand why they seem to be burying their head in the sand.”
The firm wants to use industrial composting system, which separates waste and produces soil and methane gas from organic waste, which could benefit industrial sector.
The Southern Municipal Council earlier wanted to pull out of the agreement, raising concerns over the development.
It claimed the method produces dangerous fumes, including dioxin, which is thought to cause cancer.
However, Mr Mettetal maintains the concerns are “out of focus”.
“One of the plants (overseas) is practically right under the window of the Prince of Monaco’s palace and I really do not think it would be there if there was the least chance of contamination,” he said.
Ministry officials were unavailable for comment when contacted by the GDN..