Ongoing discussions are taking place to investigate allegations regarding substandard steel production in the country. This follows concerns raised by Engineers Fiji in a letter to the Government, which included recommendations for enhancing the quality of steel mesh reinforcement.
Shaheen Ali, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Trade, stated that the ministry’s standards team is actively engaging with both Engineers Fiji and the implicated manufacturer to gather and verify technical information. He assured that the minister would be kept informed, and recommendations would be proposed to ensure compliance with Fiji’s standards.
The letter, dated July 31 and signed by civil and structural engineer Krishmal Dutt and Engineers Fiji president Terence Erasito, responded to a ministerial inquiry regarding the inclusion of Ø6.3mm Grade 500L steel mesh reinforcement in Fiji’s trade standards. Engineers Fiji concluded that amending the Trade Standards for this inclusion is unnecessary while highlighting the engineer’s responsibility to evaluate project-specific needs independently.
The organization suggested the gradual phasing out of traditional mesh types, recommending a voluntary transition rather than enforced legislation. Engineers Fiji also conducted visits to various steel manufacturers to gain direct insight into their production processes and quality control practices.
Their findings indicated significant issues, including a lack of independent quality control to ensure compliance with Australian/New Zealand standards and inconsistency in the locally manufactured steel mesh reinforcements. These findings have raised alarms about the potential risks associated with using and exporting the mesh reinforcements.
In response to the government’s request for industry feedback on the quality of steel reinforcement mesh, Engineers Fiji proposed a three-point plan:
1. **Legislation for Independent Product Certification**: Engineers Fiji calls for a law mandating that steel reinforcement manufacturers secure independent certification from an internationally recognized body, ensuring compliance with relevant standards.
2. **Adoption of the Current AS/NZS 4671 Standard**: They advocate for Fiji to adopt the 2019 version of the AS/NZS 4671 standard, aligning it with contemporary engineering practices in Australia and New Zealand, which would enhance conformity requirements and testing standards.
3. **Transition from Traditional Mesh to Commonly Available Mesh in New Zealand**: Engineers Fiji points out that while the local market still uses outdated mesh types, modern mesh types have been implemented in Australia and New Zealand. They urge for a transition to the updated standards to ensure safety and structural integrity.
Additionally, Engineers Fiji emphasized the need for Ductility Class E mesh, which is essential in Fiji’s seismic zone, ensuring that local structures can withstand earthquakes effectively.
Concerns have been raised within the industry regarding a steel manufacturer mentioned in reports, which has begun a media campaign to promote its products. The same manufacturer is also involved in efforts to remove abandoned vessels from the Suva harbor without a formal agreement. The Government clarified that any changes to the manufacturer’s promotional activities would depend on the forthcoming recommendations to Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica. The minister did not address queries from the media regarding this matter.