Just by looking at a photo of a large solar cell sent to his iPhone, Philip December was able to see why his client was having trouble with his solar system. “The battery is fake. Please buy another one if you can,” he said in response to a WhatsApp inquiry from a customer based in Mutoko, a rural town about 150 kilometers northeast of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare.
With more than 20 years of experience in the trenches of Mbale, Harare’s oldest suburb, this veteran electronics engineer has witnessed all kinds of shoddy imitations and even fake green technology products. From mobile phone batteries and power banks to home and industrial solar products such as photovoltaic panels, batteries and inverters, he has a wide range of products, from deceptive labels and exaggerated capacities to low-quality counterfeit and I’ve come across everything from outright fakes.
“In the case of this (particular) battery, it’s not unusual for it to be stuffed with sand, glass, or other cheap, heavy fillers, even though the actual battery is only tiny… This is to trick the buyer into thinking they are making a genuine transaction,” December explained to Fair Planet.
Counterfeit products are hampering Africa’s solar power boom
African communities, some of whose members have low literacy rates, are striving to adapt practices that reduce the effects of climate change, such as irrigation, renewable power sources, and conservation agriculture. We are investing in things like power generation. water pumps, solar lights and other products. However, some unscrupulous suppliers import poor quality and counterfeit products and sell them to unsuspecting consumers, most of whom lack the relevant knowledge and protection.
As was the case with December customers, if an end user discovers that the product they purchased is of very low quality or is simply a fake backed by false claims and has to replace it, climate change The cost of adaptation will be high.
continent-wide problems
Experts say this is a continent-wide problem as these products are imported in large quantities into most African countries. According to Spoor & Fisher, a global law firm based in South Africa specializing in trademark, anti-counterfeiting, intellectual property, and other related litigation across Africa, most counterfeit goods originate from the East, particularly China. It is said that it comes from At the same time, in recent years a significant number of products have been manufactured on African soil.
“African countries are particularly vulnerable to the sale of counterfeit goods because much commercial activity takes place in unregulated markets, borders are easily breached, and resources to combat counterfeit goods are often insufficient. ,” Spoor & Fisher said in its report.
Rouse, a global intellectual property company, also cites China as a major source of counterfeit products. “China’s role in the counterfeit trade cannot be overstated,” the report said. “Counterfeit goods from China are estimated to account for approximately 12.5% of China’s total exports and more than 1.5% of its GDP. It is ranked as the main source for approximately 75% of
Nick Redfern, Rouse’s global executive director, told FairPlanet that while he doesn’t have specific data on individual African countries, research has shown that most of these products originate from China. said that it was shown.
“It’s generally estimated that 75% of the world’s counterfeit goods come from China. This is higher for complex products such as electronics and lower for simpler products such as clothing and toys,” Redfern said. said.
China denies the charges and maintains that it is faithfully fulfilling its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to promote trade, including combating trade in counterfeit goods.
Climate costs of substandard products
These low-quality products imported from India, Dubai, Pakistan, and Indonesia are usually counterfeit products of reputed global brands. These are generally referred to as “single-use” products that consumers purchase at their own risk. They are known as derogatory terms across the continent, such as “zhing-zhong” in Zimbabwe, “fong kong” in South Africa and “chinko” in Nigeria.
The West African country, Africa’s largest economy, loses an average of N15 trillion ($19.2 billion) annually to substandard goods, according to the Standards Society of Nigeria (SON). The South African Revenue Service (SARS) estimates that counterfeit goods cost the country more than R100 billion ($5.3 billion) annually.
According to the study, the majority of counterfeit goods in Kenya are imported from China, resulting in an estimated annual net loss of $368 million. Additionally, the Kenyan government spends more than $100 million annually on preventing and tracking counterfeit goods.
Julius Ngoma, Coordinator of Civil Society Network on Climate Change in Malawi (CISONECC), said: “Malawi is not being saved and consumers are losing huge amounts of money in repairs and replacements every time a product stops working. “There is,” he said. Fair Planet. “Unfortunately, poor people who cannot afford durable but expensive equipment are paying more.”
Kenya and South Africa are the only countries on the African continent with dedicated anti-counterfeiting agencies.
The looming threat of e-waste
Natalie Gwatirisa, founder of All for Climate Action (AFCA), a Zimbabwean youth-led non-profit organization working to raise awareness of climate change, warned against these products. , said that its products would eventually create an e-waste problem (e-waste).
“Africa should not open its arms and accept (anything) from China, because this will definitely lead to new landfills in Africa…Africa needs to be mindful of what it is trading.” Gwatirisa told Fair Planet. “I’m sure it will become a trend soon because e-waste is another issue (of concern). Think about the solar panels that charge your mobile phone. Many of them don’t work, so people Throw them away. So what will Africa be like in the next 20 years?”
An estimated 150 million solar products have been distributed across Africa since 2010, according to SolarAid, a UK-based charity that promotes solar power in Zambia, Malawi and other African countries. , which has revolutionized electricity access for millions of off-grid and rural households. However, it is estimated that nearly 75 percent of these products are no longer operational, adding to the growing e-waste problem.
To combat this, the charity has launched a program to train local residents to repair and recycle solar products within their communities.
“By working with local communities and supporting local capacity training, the impact of this program is far-reaching,” the charity said. “Not only do we reduce e-waste, extend product lifespans and expand access to solar, but we also create job opportunities, keep money in local economies, and create stronger, more financially resilient economies.” Build a community.”
Strengthening market regulation, reducing energy poverty
Mr Ngoma said substandard imports were flooding African markets because most countries lacked proper regulations, standards and enforcement.
“This situation will not help solve Africa’s energy crisis…The country’s over-reliance on charcoal and firewood will only exacerbate energy poverty, deforestation and forest degradation.” It added that the products will contribute to the challenge of green energy transition.
John van Zuylen, CEO of the African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), told FairPlanet that as the use of solar power increases in Africa, standards must be ensured both in the import and installation of products. He said that it is necessary to ensure that it is maintained.
“I think the real challenge is how different countries apply these standards and checks when allowing imports,” Van Zuylen said. He pointed out that for residential, commercial and industrial solar installations, problems can be related to equipment quality as well as a lack of installation skills.
Rosemary Mpofu, executive director of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ), hopes low-quality products do not leave the country.
“We need curbing smuggling at ports of entry, consumer awareness to adopt smart shopping trends, and a holistic approach by all sectors involved,” Mpofu said.
Zimbabwe has established a solar testing laboratory to remove substandard solar products from the market, while the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has established minimum standards that importers and retailers must comply with for all solar equipment. Developing mandatory regulations that define quality standards. .
South Africa’s national standards body, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), said it has standards to promote when it comes to green energy.
Sadhville Bissoon from SABS told Fair Planet that they have published a number of standards that address the need for green energy and promote it through various marketing platforms to strengthen uptake and adoption by the industry. .
“We are increasing awareness of our conformity assessment services in the public and private sectors,” said Mr. Bissoon. “We have a product certification scheme that allows manufacturers to insert the SABS approval mark onto their products, which assures consumers, distributors and retailers that the product meets specific national quality standards.”
