An order prohibiting the exportation of copper, except by certain manufacturers, has been renewed.

The Trade Ministry says the order came into effect on February 22nd, 2024 and was originally imposed last year to address the theft of private and public infrastructure, such as telecoms, electricity and electrical poles and other critical road infrastructure.

The Ministry says it is finalizing arrangements towards the proclamation of the Section 3(1) of the Scrap Metal Act, 2022 to bring the licensing of Scrap Metal Collectors into full operationalization.

A public notice will be published in the daily newspapers outlining the steps and procedures to acquire a licence.

The renewed Prohibition Order, 2024 prohibits the exportation of Copper except by:

• “manufacturers licensed by the Minister with responsibility for trade, to export old metal as a by-product of manufacturing goods or as surplus materials not required for manufacturing them, pursuant to the Prohibition (Carriage Coastwise, Importation and Exportation) (Amendment) (No.2) Order, 2022; or
• “manufacturers licensed by the Minister with responsibility for trade, to export copper as a by-product of manufacturing articles or as surplus materials not required for manufacturing them. copper as a by-product of manufacturing articles or as surplus materials not required for manufacturing them.”