Pula steel seals deal with scrap dealers

Faith Siako | Monday December 7, 2015 18:00

 

In an interview with Business Monitor, the spokesperson for Pula Steel, Brian Masenene, conceded the dealers had been complaining that they (Pula Steel) was taking business from them.Masenene said scrap dealers were worried that individuals would sell scrap metal to Pula Steel, thus pushing them (scrap metal dealers) out of business.

“We are not interested in buying nor collecting scrap raw materials from the general public,” he said.

He added that scrap metal dealers must not be worried that their businesses might collapse because of Pula Steel.

He explained that Pula Steel would buy scrap metal from small-scale dealers, not individuals. He stressed that his company collected high quality scrap metal that would enable it to produce high value, exportable products. The company exports its products to South Africa where there is a market. However, Masenene said some Zambian companies have aso show interest in buying from Pula Steel.

Masenene said his company recently engaged the Ministry of Trade and Industry pertaining to pricing and export laws. He said some people export scrap materials without licence.

“The ministry must ensure that the departments they work with especially at the borders enforce the law accordingly,” he said.

He said that the Botswana Unified Revenue Services and the police must do thorough search at the borders to ensure that scrap metals were not smuggled in and out of Botswana.

Pula Steel is the only company that produces finished steel products in Botswana.