Mozambique cement industry: Govt clamps down 2nd hand machinery imports

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Mozambique cement industry: Govt clamps down 2nd hand machinery imports

3:08 CAT | 29 Jun 2016

Imports of second-hand equipment for the manufacture of cement are to be subject to restrictions, under a regulation recently approved by the government.

Industry Director Mateus Matusse explained that the restrictions are aimed at preventing Mozambique from being swamped with obsolete equipment.

The new regulations lay down that, in order to be acceptable, second-hand equipment must have a remaining useful life of at least 50 percent of that specified by the manufacturer, and be accompanied by instruction and operating manuals and a clear indication of the last time it was inspected.

In the case of new equipment, only an instruction manual is required.

Notícias reports that this restriction is meant to protect the market in face of remarkable growth in the cement industry in the country, adding that “with the same goal [in mind] the government is imposing, with effect from next year, the requirement for cement plants to have their own laboratories for quality assessment, before submitting the product to independent certification”.

According to Matusse, quoted in Wednesday’s edition of “Notícias”, the certification requirement also applies to imported cement, whose packaging should from next year indicate the entity which packed the product and that which imported it.

“In addition to the above certification rules, it will also be mandatory to show the date of packing, and information on the period in which the cement should be used. Furthermore, all imported cement must have quality certification issued by an institution recognised by the Mozambican National Standardization and Quality Institute,” Matusse explained.

According to the Industry Director, none of these requirements exist under the 1974 law currently in force.

“So, in terms of both imports and marketing, there is little rigour. But with the instrument now approved, the market has regulations consistent with current times,” he said.

Matusse added that the new quality assurance requirements extended also to the transportation, handling and sale of cement.

Source: Notícias