Schneider Electric, the world specialist in energy management, has released its first survey on electrical counterfeiting products ever conveyed in Africa, with Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana amongst countries with high rates of counterfeited products in their markets.

The survey took place in eleven African countries: Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. More than 500 “high level” officials and professionals were contacted by 37 African trained investigators. They answered a total of 8,185 questions.

“For the first time, all stakeholders of the African electrical market will be able to move forward, based on a solid picture of reality”, says Tracy Garner, Anti- Counterfeiting Global Manager.

Based on the results, the first conclusion is that counterfeiting of most common electrical products is widely spread in all African countries, representing 40% to 80% of their markets. Cables, breakers, sockets, switches and extension cords, are the five most counterfeit electrical products (in that order).

According to the survey, China remains the main source of electrical counterfeit goods entering the continent, accounting for 75 per cent of the answers, followed by the rest of Asian countries.

It also reflected that locally manufactured counterfeits originate mostly from Tanzania, Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

“Now, having measured the impact of counterfeits on African economies and users’ safety, the urgency to act is real. Schneider Electric is committed to do its best in answering professionals’ demands and expectations expressed in the survey”, concludes Tracy.