Gulf United Steel Holding Company (Foulath) has been honoured for its commitment to and efforts in implementing the latest environmental protection systems.

Foulath, which is among Bahrain's largest investors and employers, was recognised for the role it has played in helping the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife develop a new online system to monitor direct emissions from fixed sources such as industries and power stations.

This new tool will be critical in enabling the kingdom to even better control the quality of its air, land and waterways.

Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife president Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa presented the award at a ceremony held on Tuesday.

It was attended by UN under-secretary and UN Environment Programme executive director Achim Steiner and Regional Organisation for the Protection of Marine Environment executive secretary Dr Abdul Rahman Al Awadi.

Foulath investee company, Gulf Industrial Investment Company (GIIC) was established in Bahrain in 1984 and throughout this time, has remained highly committed to environmental protection through ongoing investments that ensure its growth is achieved in a planned and socially responsible manner.

This means putting a premium on the establishment and maintenance of high health, safety and environmental standards at its steel complex, which is located in the Hidd Industrial Area, occupying 1.3 million sq m of land.

Foulath's steel complex is the world's first fully integrated steel manufacturing facility and home to its investee companies: GIIC, a world-class pelletising company, which is one of three merchant plants in the world and the only one located in the Middle East, United Stainless Steel Company, the region's first manufacturer of stainless steel, and United Steel Company, which will be the region's only producer of beams and medium and heavy structural steel sections.

To date, Foulath and its subsidiaries have invested in excess of $20 million on the development, implementation and maintenance of environmental technologies, projects and procedures at their facilities so as to ensure the safety and preservation of the surrounding air, land and sea.

'We would like to thank Shaikh Abdulla for this honour and his dedication to promoting the adoption and implementation of sound environmental policies in Bahrain,' Foulath vice-chairman and managing director Khalid Al Qadeeri said.

'We look forward to continuing our close co-operation with the Public Commission as well as Foulath's role as a strong corporate citizen in Bahrain,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service