TANZANIA TO MANUFACTURE AND EXPORT PIPES

Tanzania will soon start to manufacture and export pipes to the East African market and beyond, thanks to the establishment of Pipe Industries Company Limited.

The Managing Director of Pipe Industries Company Ltd, Mr. Seif Seif said the industry is one of its kind not only in the country but in East and Central Africa. The company manufactures all types of pipes using high level technology of international standards.

Among pipes manufactured by the company include Glass fiber reinforced plastic pipe (GRP), high density polyethylene pipe (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride pipe (PVC) and spiral-welded steel pipes.

He said that Tanzania is one of the fastest growing economies in East Africa and in recent years the government has focused on the development of infrastructure in road network, water supply and distribution, mining and construction as well as oil and gas sectors.

The pipe manufacturing industry has already employed 250 local Tanzanians in its phase one, and after completion of Phase two more than 500 will be employed.

"All these economic sectors present massive opportunity for supply of all types of pipes in the country, cutting down government's cost of importing the pipes from elsewhere around the world," he explained.

Addressing water stakeholders in Dar es Salaam, the Minister for Water and Irrigation Prof. Jumanne Maghembe said the government has been spending a lot of money importing different types of pipes for use, not only in the water but also the energy sector.

He said that the company has come at an opportune time when the government has embarked on heavy investment in production of water in urban and rural areas for domestic, agricultural and industrial use, where different types of pipes will be needed.

"The government has initiated a lot of water projects in the country in response to water needs. We want the public to access water not more than 400 meters from where they live and we will need these pipes," Prof. Maghembe said.