Tanzania government announces to release Ocean Aluminium cargo held at port after thorough inspection

Tanzania government will release a consignment of aluminium products imported by the city-based Ocean Aluminium Company only after a thorough inspection by environmental experts. Such was the statement announced by the government last weekend.

In Tanzania, under section 133(2) of the Environmental Act, 2004, any persons or companies are prohibited from importing, exporting, recycling or collecting hazardous waste including metal scrap, used batteries, electronic waste, and hospital dischargeable without prior approval of the National Environmental Management Council (Nemc).

Ocean Aluminium Company had imported over 40 tonnes of aluminium without Nemc’s approval several months ago, and therefore, the consignment got stranded at the Dar es Salaam port.

This prompted the minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office Mr Mussa Zungu to visit the company at the weekend. He then said that since the goods were imported without Nemc’s prior approval, they would be released only after a thorough inspection by the experts.

While saying that, he also reminded public and private institutions to observe Nemc’s guidelines when importing raw materials listed as hazardous materials.

Ocean Aluminium Company’s personnel manager Ms Aisha Omary said that the company was having some difficulties in getting enough raw materials hence, the import was an urgent input in manufacturing aluminium pots. She, nonetheless, admitted on behalf of the company that they did not follow the laid-down importing procedures of stranded materials.

"This has provided us with a good lesson on what we must do next time... We did not observe some of the regulations governing importation of raw materials into the country. We shall be consulting with Nemc on issues regarding imports to avoid such incidents in the future," said Ms Omary.