Factories face Sh40m in penalties

Kilombero. The government has ordered Ilovo Sugar Factory and Morogoro Tanneries Limited to pay Sh40 million in fines for breaching environment management laws and regulations.

The fines came during a visit by the deputy minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Mr Luhaga Mpina, to the factories yesterday. 

He was accompanied by officials from the National Environment Management Council (Nemc).

One of the NEMC officials, Mr Alfred Msokwa, accused Ilovo Sugar of preserving solid waste, contrary to environmental standards, an offence which attracted a  fine of Sh25 million.

The deputy minister gave the company seven days to pay the fines. He also directed the management of the sugar factory to correct the shortcomings within 30 days. “We wouldn’t want to see our directive ignored without any explanation. Investors and the government are partners whose agreements should never be ignored,” he said.

Mr Msokwa said three months ago the sugar factory was inspected whereby 40 shortcomings were found and that 38 of them were addressed.

At Morogoro Tanneries Limited, the deputy minister directed the management of the factory to pay Sh15 million in penalty for having a defective system for trapping waste water which was disposed of to residential areas.

Mr Mpina directed the factory to control a foul smell residents of Kihonda, Kihonda Magorofani, and Mwembesongo wards were complaining of.

Mr Mpina also visited Moproco and Canvas factories as well as 21st Century Textile Limited.