Bahrain’s official media reported King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s decree on a cabinet reshuffle, including the appointment of a new oil minister.

Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Dina, who was Bahrain’s special climate envoy, has been appointed oil and environment minister, succeeding oil minister Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

The amendment included the appointment of Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani as Minister of Industry and Trade and Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sirafi as Minister of Tourism.

The Bahrain News Agency quoted Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa as saying: “We are looking forward to the next phase, infusing new energy into the Council of Ministers, to direct this energy and our ideas to further develop the government’s work for the benefit and development of the country and citizen.”

A government spokesman said the cabinet reshuffle is the largest in Bahrain’s history and has resulted in 17 out of 22 ministers being replaced and a large number of young ministers being hired, including four women ministers.

Bahrain, a small non-OPEC oil producer, is one of the most heavily indebted countries in the region. His Gulf allies helped him avert a credit crunch in 2018 with a $10 billion aid package. Ratings agencies Fitch and Moody’s said that Bahrain is likely to need additional funding from the Gulf countries.