Dangote factory now fined Sh15m

What you need to know:

  • The fine was imposed after an inspection by the deputy minister of State in the Vice President’s Office, Mr Luhaga Mpina, revealing hard waste within the factory compound as well as failure to construct a latrine at the site where drivers park their vehicles as they await loading them.

Mtwara. The National Environmental Management Council (Nemc) has slapped Dangote Cement factory here with a Sh15 million fine for failure to observe environment rules and regulations.

The fine was imposed after an inspection by the deputy minister of State in the Vice President’s Office, Mr Luhaga Mpina, revealing hard waste within the factory compound as well as failure to construct a latrine at the site where drivers park their vehicles as they await loading them.

Nemc coordinator in the Southern Zone, Mr Lewis Nzila, said the factory was found operating against the environmental law and that it was supposed to pay the fine within seven days and build a toilet within two weeks. “We found the factory littered by solid waste. They should have dust bins. They are also supposed to construct a parking area as the current one is too dusty,” he said.

For his part, Mr Mpina said temporary toilets should be built within two weeks.

“There is no reason why the factory should not build a toilet for its customers. They should put up temporary facility in the next two weeks and commence on building a permanent one,” he said.

The head of Human Resources at the factory, Mr Kajele James, said they will fulfil all the set conditions and directives. “We respect the environment. Health of our workers and visitors depend on safe environment. This factory has just begun operations and there are some support facilities which are still under construction,” he said.