Most imported lubricants faulted

ROSE ATHUMANI

MORE than 50 per cent of imported lubricant products are substandard, a sample testing exercise across Dar es Salaam conducted by the Government Chemist Laboratory Agency has revealed.

Following the revelation, the government has banned selling of substandard and recycled lubricants in the streets and local markets a move that will see only lubricants that meet the required standards are in the market.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Deputy Minister for Health, Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dr Hamis Kigwangalla, also directed the government chemist to continue with the inspection on lubricants products in the market in cooperation with trademark companies.

“We want to identify and recognise real lubricants products that are of the required standards and those that are substandard,” Dr Kigwangalla explained. The deputy minister said his ministry will continue with inspec-tion on lubricants and issue certification of analysis before the products are allowed to be used in the country.

“We will also strengthen inspection at our borders and ports to ensure that imported chemicals are of the required standard and in accordance with regulations and laws,” he added.

According to Dr Kigwangalla the government chemist conducted testing on lubricant samples collected from across Dar es Salaam Region, which showed that 50 per cent of engine lubricants (petrol) and 52.6 per cent of engine lubricants (diesel) were substandard.

He said 77.7 per cent of automobile transmission fluid (ATF) and 50.6 per cent of gear oil tested were also sub-standard and not meeting global required standards.

“My ministry, through the government chemist, is preparing packaging regulations and chemical inscription in accordance with the global harmonisation system that will help identify substandard lubricants in the market,” he explained.

According to the deputy minister, out of the 28 companies dealing in lubricants, only five are registered with the government chemist and are the major importers of lubricants products.

The companies and the percentage quantity of imported lubricant products in brackets are General Petroleum (40.32 percent), Petrolube (16 percent), Puma (13.69 percent), Oryx (7.14 percent) and Mogas (0.05 percent).

Leading countries from where Tanzania imports its lubricants are South Africa - 48.4 per cent, Kenya - 13.5 per cent, United Arab Emirates – 10.7 per cent and France 6.2 - per cent