Douala: Acero Metal factory risks government ban weeks after explosion killed 6

Fears are rife that the Ministry of Mines and Technological Innovation could close down Acero Metal Sarl, a metal factory in Douala where an explosion on March 20 injured 17 people, six of whom later died.

MMI has learned the factory failed to temporarily suspend its operations as per the instructions of Prof Fuh Calistus Gentry, acting Minister of Mines, who had instructed the Litoral Governor, Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, to enforce a temporary closure of the factory’s operations.

Following the explosion that happened on March 20, Governor Ivaha Diboua led a delegation of several officials to the scene to evaluate the damage and investigate the cause of the incident.

The factory was ordered to close operations to give way to further investigations by the Ministry of Mines concerning the accident.

But this did not happen. Based on a statement released by Prof Fuh Calistus on March 22, Acero Metal Sarl is classified as “dangerous, unhealthy or inconvenient”, based on relevant laws.

The factory uses rudimentary kilns to melt scrap metals into iron bars and other metals.

The explosion happened on one of its factory ovens at Bonaberi, Douala.

On March 30, the consumer protection agency, FOCACO, and an organisation called Hand to Heart published a joint release stating that the factory has continued to operate against a Ministerial order for it to stop operating.

Both organisations have asked the government to seal “under standard and dangerous facilities of this company until the production of the prescribed administrative and technical report to determine the causes and responsibilities of the explosion”.

They also want authorities to investigate the company’s management for “unintentional homicide”.

By Tata Mbunwe