Illegal lead export killing local battery industry: Manufacturers

NAIROBI, KENYA: Local battery manufacturers have censured unscrupulous lead exporters of wreaking havoc in Kenya.
The industry estimates that Kenya losses 100 tons of lead to these illegal exporters every week and the manufacturers have a monthly capacity of over 100,000 batteries, to supply to the East Africa Community (EAC) market estimated at 200,000 per month.
"The turnover and employment are currently under threat should the trend continue," cautioned ABM Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Guy Jack.
He disclosed that the shortfall is imported, creating an estimated US$17million in foreign exchange outflow, monthly and this is where the exporters have a field day.
Jack has now questioned the long term viability of exporting raw materials, to manufacturers abroad and turn around and buy manufactured batteries from them.
"The industry has heavily relied on acquisitions of lead through an elaborate process of recycling old automotive batteries," he said.
He continued, "Battery manufacturers in the region have in the past raised issues related to the protection of sources of lead as a critical raw material requirement in the manufacture of automotive batteries in the East African Common Market."
He noted that the new Scrap Metal Act, providing a better legal framework for the management of scrap metal industry and especially protecting raw materials for local industries, has not done much.