Public Comment Period on Scrap Metal Export Ban to End Soon

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The proposed extension of ban on scrap metal exports announced by the South African government is now open for public comment. The comment period will come to an end in a week’s time.

Initially, the government had prohibited exports of scrap copper and ferrous metals for a period of six months starting December last year. It had also banned use of cash in transactions involving scrap copper and ferrous metal. As per estimates during that time, the theft of scrap metal from public infrastructure was costing approximately R47 billion per annum to the country’s economy.

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The government noted that the ban on exports delivered positive results, which is evident from the fact that the theft of copper and ferrous metal from infrastructure owned by various agencies including Transnet, Eskom and SAPS has recorded notable decline since end-November last year.

The new proposal by the government aims to prohibit the export of certain ferrous and non-ferrous waste and scrap metal for another nine months, especially on account of very high theft levels.

The second phase of the policy, expected to be rolled out within none months, will provide further enhancement of the regulations on scrap metal trade, in addition to introduction of an electronic registration and trading platform.