The Bahrain-based Gulf United Steel Company (Foulath) has appointed long-serving executive Khalid Al-Qadeeri as chairman of the company.

Al-Qadeeri, who will assume the role on 1 January, has been vice-chairman and general manager of Foulath since 2007. He will retain overall operational control of the company.

Foulath’s main centre of operations is the 1.3 million square metre integrated steel complex it operates in Bahrain.

A $1.5bn facility in partnership with Japan’s Yamato Kogyo is currently commissioning at the site that will produce 1.5 million tonnes a year (t/y) of direct reduction iron alongside a 1 million t/y melt shop and heavy section rolling mill.