RIYADH: The factories, numbered three were shut down by the supervisory teams of the Commerce Ministry during their inspection visit in Riyadh. The team found that these thermal insulation factories were manufacturing flawed products.
Samples taken by the teams proved that the insulation products did not comply with the required energy efficiency specifications and standards of insulation materials. The ministry has halted six production lines at these factories and confiscated 1,500 pieces of insulation material.
Factory managers were summoned by the ministry for further inquiries. If found guilty they will face severe fines or imprisonment, too.
The ministry regularly conducts inspection tours to follow up on the companies’ compliance with the new system for energy efficiency, using the defined obligatory materials for insulation. As a result of these inspections, two factories in Al-Sally neighborhood, east of Riyadh, had to close down, in addition to a production line at a factory located south of Riyadh.
At the same time, the Saudi Customs began a crackdown on imported insulation products, applying a strict control to any material crossing the border.
The ministry called on all consumers to contact its complaints department to report any observations or irregularities in their home’s insulation system.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industries is organizing campaigns to check on the compliance with the required specifications at factories with the cooperation of SASO and the Saudi Center for Energy Efficiency.
These efforts come as part of the national program for energy efficiency developed by the Saudi Center for Energy Efficiency and the participation of other government institutions to curb the soaring energy consumption levels.