Yara’s 30bn/- investment worries Minjingu

[Geza Ulole]

Yara’s 30bn/- investment worries Minjingu
By ABDUEL ELINAZA, 14th February 2011 @ 11:00, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 25

THE government’s decision to allow a multi-national fertilizer company to build a warehouse at the Dar es Salaam Port has sparked debate over the future of Manyara-based Minjingu Fertilizer Company, which is already struggling against cheap imports in the local market.

The government has approved the over 20 million US dollars (about 30bn/-) project by Yara International to build the warehouse to serve the local and neighbouring countries’ fertilizer markets.

But, the local producer wonders whether it will cope with the fierce competition brought by the Norwegian multinational -- the world’s biggest producer of NPK fertilizers. Minjingu General Manager Anup Modha says the warehouse construction is a big blow to the local firm, whose current production stands at merely 20 per cent of its installed capacity.

“I fail to understand why the government has allowed (Yara) to construct the warehouse, despite supporting us (Minjingu) to produce the imported fertilizers, locally,” charges
Mr Modha, noting that the critical problem is that Tanzanians are reluctant of using the local nourishment, which has higher quality than imports.

He told the ‘Business Standard’ from Arusha via a telephone interview that excessive imports of fertilizers forced his firm to lay off the entire production workforce of 200 in last year’s fourth quarter due to lack of market. Production cessation also affected hundreds of transporters who are the main stakeholders of the factory.

“We are not against construction of the warehouse but we think that it doesn’t augur well with our future... we welcome any additional supply in case of shortage but for now we have the capacity to meet the country’s annual demand of 150,000 metric tonnes,” Mr Modha said.

However, Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperative Jumanne Maghembe has ruled out competition between Yara and Minjingu, saying the two companies trade in different products. “The two are producing different types of fertilisers -- Yara deals with NPK fertilizers while Minjingu produces phosphates.

These are quite different form of fertilizers,” Prof Maghembe said during a tele-interview from Dodoma. NPK stands for Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). The minister said plants use fertilizers to supplement nutrients not readily found on the soil.

“Each plant therefore needs different type of fertilizers -- NPK, Urea or phosphates,” Prof Maghembe, himself an agriculture expert, said. He said the national demand for fertiliser remains high, with local farmers using only eight kilogrammes of fertilizer per acre against Netherlands’ usage of 400 kg per acre.

The Ministry of agriculture wants farmers to have quality fertilizers at competitive prices and timely delivery, said Professor Maghembe, hinting that, “Talks are underway to construct an Urea and Calcium ammonium nitrogen plant in Mtwara.” Sokoine University of Agriculture’s
Prof Andrew Temu defends the warehouse construction, saying Yara International just wants to tap the regional market by turning the Dar es Salaam port into the fertilizer hub for the region.

“We better look at this issue broadly, with a regional economic eye...Dar es Salaam is the corridor for a number of landlocked countries, most of which are fertilizer insufficient,” argues Prof Temu. Minjingu produces a single type of fertilizer for certain types of soils while farmers need several types --including horticulture fertilizer -- some of which come in liquid form.

But, Mzumbe University’s Dar es Salaam School of Business, Dr Honest Ngowi believes in protection of local industries, saying the government should always protect local industries to enable them gain competitive edge against imports. He says the collapse of local industries
have multiple negative effects on the economy, citing cement companies that have been subjected to fierce competition from cheap imports.

“The competition aside, we have to protect our industries for economic wealth.” Yara International presently supplies 120,000 tonnes of fertilizer annually to Tanzania and neighbouring countries, but the installation of this facility would increase the quantities to meet the growing demand.

Yara Tanzania Limited Managing Director Wayne Forbes says the new terminal will have a revolving storage capacity of 45,000 tonnes of fertilizer, which will be sufficient for the medium term requirements. The project is a result of President Kikwete’s visit at Yara’s Headquarters in Norway in 2007, where he invited the group to invest in Tanzania.

MY TAKE
What suprizes me this Minjigu firm was sold to current owners at throw away price plus the phosphate reserves and availability abundant gas reserves in this country but after years of not capturing the market due to their untouchable prizes now they are complaining! Their argument is bloated let them shut the plant if they can't get enough capital to run the factory at its capacity! Let another company come and tap the market fro them

 

[Gad ONEYA]

?:coffee:

 

[Igembe Nsabo]

Yes Yara investment is good, but why they want to import lather than building a factory hear and produce the product at our land? Did we don't have the Raw material for the production of NPK?? am not the expert of this but those with the technical know how update me!!!

Nafikiri wanahitaji kuwa na kiwanda hapa infuture kuliko kuendelea ku import peke yake.

 

[NATA]

I do not see any ADVANTAGE of having this indian Tanzanian Minjingu factory .

The minjingu fertilizer has been very politicised instesd of creating the intended benefit.

Minjingu fertilizer is more expensive comparing to some imported fertilizer.

Minnjingu does not bring positive effect most of our soil as no enough research has been done before.

 

[Wambugani]

"Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Mtaalam aonya kuhusu madini ya Uranium


Na Nyasigo Kornel

Watu wanaokaa katika maeneo yaliyogundulika kuwa na madini aina ya Uranium wako katika hatari ya kupata kansa ya mapafu inayosababishwa na hewa aina ya Radoni inayotolewa na madini hayo.

Mkuu wa Idara ya Jeolojia katika kitivo cha sayansi cha Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam Dr. Isaac Marobhe alisema hayo jana ofisini kwake katika mahojiano maalum na gazeti hili.

Dr. Marobhe anasema kuwa kinachofuatia baada ya sigara kwa kusababisha kansa ya mapafu ni hewa hatari ya Radoni.

Anasema kuwa mtu akijenga nyumba juu ya mawe hata kama yako chini sana, hewa ya Radoni hupenya na kujaza nyumba hata mkaaji anapopumua uivuta hewa hii.

“Nchini Marekani tu watu 160,000 hufa kila mwaka kutokana na kansa ya mapafu kati ya hao watu 21,000 wanaokufa kwa kansa husababishwa na hewa hii hatari,” alisema Dr. Marobhe.

Hapa Tanzania madini aina ya Uranium imegundulika kuwepo sehemu nyingi ikiwepo Bonde la mto Rufiji, Songea, Bahi-Dodoma karibu na Manyoni, Milima ya Uluguru na Garula-Mbeya.

Kwa mujibu wa huyu mtaalamu, madini ya Uranium inatabia ya kuoza na hivyo inapooza inatoa chembechembe inayoitwa gamma, alfa na beta pamoja na hewa hii inayoitwa radoni iliyo na uwezo wa kupita katika ardhi na kujaa ndani ya nyumba iliyojengwa juu ya eneo ilipo madini hii hata kumwathiri mkaaji, na hasa kama nyumba haina mfumo mzuri wa kupitisha hewa.

Anasema kuwa chembechembe aina ya alfa na beta hazina madhara sana kwa sababu zinazuliwa kupita hata na jiwe lenye unene kiasi cha sentimita 30 tu na hivyo chembe iliyo na uwezo wa kupenya ni gamma tu.
Ripoti iliyoandikwa katika jarida la mambo ya tiba itwayo Pubmed inasema kuwa atomi moja tu ya radoni ina uwezo wa kusababisha kansa ya mapafu na hivyo zio lazima mpaka uwe nayo kwa wingi katika mapafu yako.

Jarida hilo linaandika kuwa hewa hii uua mfumo wa kuzaliana kwa seli za mapafu hivyo huziminya seli hizo na kasha kuziua na kumsababisha kansa ya mapafu.

Jarida hilo pia linatoa takwimu kuwa asilimia 30 ya vifo vya watu wa Iroshima na Nagasaki sehemu ilipoangushwa bomu la atomiki na Wamerakani katika vita vikuu vya pili vya dunia inasababishwa na kansa ya mapafu.

Dr. Marobhe anasema kuwa katika nchi zilizoendela katika kuzingatia afya ya jamii wanapima hata mawe ya kujengea nyumba kama ina kiasi cha mionzi ya radiesheni.

“Mawe aina ya ‘granite’ kwa kawaida ina kiasi Fulani ya mionzi ya radiesheni inayoweza ikasababisha kuwepo kwa hewa hii ya Radoni, hivyo ujenzi wa kutumia mawe ovyoovyo pia inaweza ikamweka mtu katika mazingira ya athari,” alisema Dr. Marobhe.

Anasema kuwa hata walipokuwa wanapima kwa kutumia ndege (Airbone geophysics) waligundua kuwa madini aina ya Phosphate iligunduliwa kule Arusha katika eneo la Minjingu ilikuwa na chembechembe za Uranium na hivyo lazima kuna hewa ya Radoni.

Alishauri kuwa serikali ifanye kila iwezalo kuwaamisha wakazi wa maeneo yaliyo na madini haya ili wasipatwe na madhara makubwa kama ya kansa ya mapafu."
Mwisho

 

[Sita Sita]

Nice Post lakini hapa sio mahala Pake

MODS please

"Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Mtaalam aonya kuhusu madini ya Uranium


Na Nyasigo Kornel

Watu wanaokaa katika maeneo yaliyogundulika kuwa na madini aina ya Uranium wako katika hatari ya kupata kansa ya mapafu inayosababishwa na hewa aina ya Radoni inayotolewa na madini hayo.

Mkuu wa Idara ya Jeolojia katika kitivo cha sayansi cha Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam Dr. Isaac Marobhe alisema hayo jana ofisini kwake katika mahojiano maalum na gazeti hili.

Dr. Marobhe anasema kuwa kinachofuatia baada ya sigara kwa kusababisha kansa ya mapafu ni hewa hatari ya Radoni.

Anasema kuwa mtu akijenga nyumba juu ya mawe hata kama yako chini sana, hewa ya Radoni hupenya na kujaza nyumba hata mkaaji anapopumua uivuta hewa hii.

"Nchini Marekani tu watu 160,000 hufa kila mwaka kutokana na kansa ya mapafu kati ya hao watu 21,000 wanaokufa kwa kansa husababishwa na hewa hii hatari," alisema Dr. Marobhe.

Hapa Tanzania madini aina ya Uranium imegundulika kuwepo sehemu nyingi ikiwepo Bonde la mto Rufiji, Songea, Bahi-Dodoma karibu na Manyoni, Milima ya Uluguru na Garula-Mbeya.

Kwa mujibu wa huyu mtaalamu, madini ya Uranium inatabia ya kuoza na hivyo inapooza inatoa chembechembe inayoitwa gamma, alfa na beta pamoja na hewa hii inayoitwa radoni iliyo na uwezo wa kupita katika ardhi na kujaa ndani ya nyumba iliyojengwa juu ya eneo ilipo madini hii hata kumwathiri mkaaji, na hasa kama nyumba haina mfumo mzuri wa kupitisha hewa.

Anasema kuwa chembechembe aina ya alfa na beta hazina madhara sana kwa sababu zinazuliwa kupita hata na jiwe lenye unene kiasi cha sentimita 30 tu na hivyo chembe iliyo na uwezo wa kupenya ni gamma tu.
Ripoti iliyoandikwa katika jarida la mambo ya tiba itwayo Pubmed inasema kuwa atomi moja tu ya radoni ina uwezo wa kusababisha kansa ya mapafu na hivyo zio lazima mpaka uwe nayo kwa wingi katika mapafu yako.

Jarida hilo linaandika kuwa hewa hii uua mfumo wa kuzaliana kwa seli za mapafu hivyo huziminya seli hizo na kasha kuziua na kumsababisha kansa ya mapafu.

Jarida hilo pia linatoa takwimu kuwa asilimia 30 ya vifo vya watu wa Iroshima na Nagasaki sehemu ilipoangushwa bomu la atomiki na Wamerakani katika vita vikuu vya pili vya dunia inasababishwa na kansa ya mapafu.

Dr. Marobhe anasema kuwa katika nchi zilizoendela katika kuzingatia afya ya jamii wanapima hata mawe ya kujengea nyumba kama ina kiasi cha mionzi ya radiesheni.

"Mawe aina ya ‘granite' kwa kawaida ina kiasi Fulani ya mionzi ya radiesheni inayoweza ikasababisha kuwepo kwa hewa hii ya Radoni, hivyo ujenzi wa kutumia mawe ovyoovyo pia inaweza ikamweka mtu katika mazingira ya athari," alisema Dr. Marobhe.

Anasema kuwa hata walipokuwa wanapima kwa kutumia ndege (Airbone geophysics) waligundua kuwa madini aina ya Phosphate iligunduliwa kule Arusha katika eneo la Minjingu ilikuwa na chembechembe za Uranium na hivyo lazima kuna hewa ya Radoni.

Alishauri kuwa serikali ifanye kila iwezalo kuwaamisha wakazi wa maeneo yaliyo na madini haya ili wasipatwe na madhara makubwa kama ya kansa ya mapafu."
Mwisho

 

[Sita Sita]

Hivi Jamani Are we Serious?

Tunaimba KILIMO KWANZA kila siku alaf hatuna kiwanda cha kizalendo cha kutengeneza mbolea

I think turudi nyuma tujiandae na hiyo kilimo kwanza before kusema chochote

Kwanza tuwe na viwanda vya kutengeneza vifaa vya kilimo e.g.
1. majembe,
2. assembly plants za tractors, na mashine nyingine
3. mashine za kumwagilia,
4. mbolea,
5. mbegu imara
6. elimu ya kutosha ya kilimo cha kisasa
7. tuadentify maeneo mazuri ya kilimo

baada ya maandalizi ndo tufanye hiyo implementation ya kilimo kwanza otherwise tutavuna tulichopanda

I hope we have learnt something from the SHULE ZA KATA

 

[Mtanganyika]

Tuwe wawazi jamani, hawa wazalendo ndio wanao tuuwa. They run kampuni zao with poor management style, too much OPEX and outdated Assets. Madhara yake ni kwamba wanashindwa kushindana na soko huria. Dawa ni moja tuu wacha zife na nyingine shindani zitakuwa. Nyingine za kuziacha zife ni Saruji, Tanga cement. We can't protect this companies, sababu zinatubana sisi wenyewe kwa high price and stupid products.

You see what is happening kwa TTCL? Miaka nenda uje walikuwa wananunua magari ya kifahari ili kubeba watoto wa maboss, Investment kwenye new technology ilikuwa ya kubabia, watoto wa viongozi wa TTCL walikuwa wanatwanga ccm 24hrs, 7 days no charges. TTCL walikuwa wanajua utaka usitake mimi ndio solution. My friend when mobile companies arrived, the nightmare and that story ended.

Same kwa hizi kampuni za Mbolea, turuhusu wakenya nao waingize Mbolea zao bila ushuru, warwanda nao. Hili litaleta ushindano na wale wabovu watakufa tutabaki na kampuni za ukweli.