Zambian foundry association welcomes ban on steel scrap export:

The banning of exports of scrap metal sales by the Zambian government to protect the local steel production industry may have hurt the scrap metal dealers but it has on the other hand cheered the foundry stakeholders with players asking members to seize the opportunity, created by the blanket ban to maximize on profits.

According to local media reports, the Foundry Association of Zambia asked members to maximize available opportunities following a ban on the export of scrap metal.

Mr Eugene Appel chairperson of Foundry Association of Zambia said that in Kitwe a mining town on the copper rich region in the country that metal manufacturers need to take full advantage of the ban and increase production in the sector and also ensure that the benefits reached out to the workers and other stakeholders in the economy.

Mr Appel said that although the move was long overdue, it would still help in value addition which the Government has been emphasizing.

He said that we at FMAZ welcome the decision taken by Government to ban the export of the scrap metal as that will protect not only local industries but even jobs of the Zambians.

Mr Appel said that scrap is a crucial reserve stock and must be protected from indiscriminate exports as it cannot be grown in a field like other raw materials. Therefore Government’s decision to ban the export of the metal is in line with FMAZ policy of creating employment using local raw material and expertise.

The ban of the scrap metal was announced recently by Mr Felix Mutati Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister during the Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola. It is meant to safeguard the local industry and protect jobs for the many Zambians. The same measure has been taken in other countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.

Scrap is one of the essential raw materials for the Foundries and Steel Industries which is a backbone for industrialization as was witnessed in fast growing economies in India and China.

(Filed by Mr Kapembwa Sinkamba, SteelGuru Correspondent Zambia)

Source: Steel Guru. 7 August 2011

http://www.steelguru.com/international_news/Zambian_foundry_association_welcomes_ban_on_steel_scrap_export/218782.html