Distributor raises red flag over increased contraband batteries

Batteries distributor Chloride Exide Limited has decried the influx of dealers selling contraband batteries in the Kenyan market.

The distributor wants the Government to license dealers to enable monitoring of fake batteries and solar panels into the country.

Coast Regional Manager Sheikh Margubail pointed out that the presence of fake products and dealers has highly affected the industry, as customers end up buying fake products.

Mr Margubail said that the Energy and Regulatory Commission (ERC) requires any person dealing in energy related products, including solar and batteries to be registered and licensed to ensure accountability to customers on the products sold to them.

"The training is in line with the new ERC regulations that require all dealers selling solar systems and batteries to be licensed.

This should be the case for all those who want to deal in this business," said Margubail during at a training for solar and battery dealers in Mombasa.

LOCAL PRODUCTION

He said the company had embarked on training its registered dealers across the country in an effort to advise customers on the best products.

"We have new products on the market that we would like traders to offer customers according to their specific needs," said Margubail.

Margubail said that most customers end up purchasing products that only last for a short while.

As a result, customers feel duped when the products do not meet their needs.

He said the company had made a five-million-dollar investment to put up a local plant to manufacture their new product; sealed maintenance Free batteries.

"We have been importing sealed maintenance batteries but now we will be able to produce our own locally.

This will do away with importation costs and bring down product prices," said Margubail.

He said the new plant has created job opportunities and job security for their staff in the entire East Africa region.