Dar to end laissez-faire in lubricant oil import

IDDY MWEMA

The Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Charles Mwijage.

LUBRICANT oil importers have been directed to obtain import permits from Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) starting from May in order to curb imports of substandard products.

The directive was given in Dar es Salaam by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Charles Mwijage, during his official visit to rebar industry and three lubricants factories in the region.

Mr Mwijage said substandard lubricants have been flooding the market thus each importer must have the permit from TBS to control that. “In the previous years people were importing oil lubricants without any permits from TBS, something which has brought us here, from today onwards anyone who wish to import must get permit from TBS,” he said.

The Minister said it was high time importers stopped the anomaly and followed proper procedures as the use of sub-standard lubricants in the industry need to be discouraged considering its danger on equipment and machinery.

Incessant use of substandard lubricant oil reduce the life span of engines in machines or vehicles and could lead to accidents at workplaces or on the road if machines or vehicles suddenly break down due to use of fake lubricants.

The Minister said importers cannot opt to import lubricant oil with the same quality as the ones produced in the country as that will weaken our market and cause youth to lose their jobs.

Mr Mwijage urged mining and industries using lubricant oil to prefer using local products. Meanwhile, during his visit at Kamal Steel Group of Companies, the Minister said the government will start implementing Anti-dumping Act of 2004 effectively to protect local industries.

“Unfortunately this Act is not being implemented in our country and this hampers the survival of our industries and thus unemployment may be increased, as far as the implementation of this Act is within my power, I will make sure the Act is fully enforced to make sure development of local industries is achieved and government revenue is increased as well,” he promised.

Electrician at Kamal Mr John Nekemwene said, there is importation of cheap reinforcing bars which not only threaten the survival of the industry but also employees.

“There are rebar peak all around and for more than two years we have been producing with no secured market for our local products due to stiff competition we have from cheap imported rebar,” Mr Nekemwene revealed.