NAIROBI – The Cabinet Secretary for Industrialisation and Enterprise Development, Mr Adan Mohammed, yesterday launched the locally manufactured maintenance-free car battery in Kenya and East African.
This battery is manufactured by Associated Battery Manufacturers (ABM) and will be available throughout the East, Central and Southern Africa region, to tap the growing number of cars in the region. Speaking during the launch of the KSh600 million production line at ABM’s base in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, Mr Mohamed commended the investment in new technologies and equipment.
“This is an encouraging sign of the confidence and commitment that investors have in the government’s policies, which provide a platform to create more employment opportunities for our youth,” the CS added.
According to the Economic Survey 2014, the total of newly registered motor vehicles in Kenya rose by 21.7% to 94,017 units in 2013 up from 77,229 units recorded in 2012. This increase is consistent with the growing middle class.
Production of these maintenance-free car batteries use lead as a key raw material, which is sourced locally from old batteries. This is expected to lead to cheaper batteries. Mr Mohamed said to facilitate growth of the lead battery manufacturing sector, the government regulating export of scrap batteries.
The Government is also spearheading amendment of the Third Schedule of the East Africa Community’s Customs Management Act, which has placed a restriction on the exportation of used automobile batteries, lead scrap, crude and refined lead in the EAC Region.
Further, tthe ministry initiated and spearheaded the enactment of the Scrap Metal Act 2014, which became Law in January 2015. The law will not only provide a framework for an increase in the availability of local raw materials but also improve traceability of these scrap materials.
