Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 31, 2014 News
The shortage of aggregate to make critical road building materials such as crusher-run and asphalt has delayed the completion of many projects being executed by government contractors. In fact, the Ministry of Public Works asphalt plant is experiencing a backlog of delivering asphalt valuing over $100M.
This was confirmed by Rawlston Adams, General Manager of Demerara Harbour Bridge with responsibility for the Ministry’s asphalt plant during a recent interview with this publication.
He explained that Baracara Quarries and Toolsie Persaud Limited are the two companies currently supplying the asphalt plant with aggregate. However, the amount being supplied to the plant is insufficient to satisfy the growing demands.
Adams said that the plant has not yet completed providing asphalt for 2013 projects and already the first quarter of 2014 has been completed.
According to an engineer, while the erection of the steel sheet revetment before Craig turn has been completed, the contractor is awaiting asphalt from the Ministry’s asphalt plant to resurface the section of the East Bank Demerara Public Road that sunk in places during the construction phase.
Adams’ views were echoed by Geoffrey Vaughn, Coordinator of Work Services Group of the Public Works Ministry, who stated that almost all projects undertaken by the Ministry are affected, particularly miscellaneous roads, which depend on crusher-run to complete the surface.
Vaughn noted that while supply locally is limited, there is nothing stopping contractors from importing aggregate.
Meanwhile, BK Quarries is seeking to enhance their production locally to satisfy the growing demand. During a recent interview Brian Tiwari, General Manager of BK Quarries enlightened this publication that in early April his brand new mobile machine will be arriving in Guyana. This machine is expected to increase his quarry production to about 80,000 tons per month.
Tiwari noted that currently his production is 40,000 to 50,000 tons per month. He assured that his operation has aggregates to supply any amount once cash is provided.
There are five quarry operations in Guyana: Baracara Quarries; Toolsie Persaud Ltd; BK Quarries, Durban Quarries; and Metallica CC Guyana Inc.
In 2012, these companies accumulatively produced 110,988 tons of aggregates while in 2013 production increased to 119,826 tons of aggregates.
This is according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, who stated that in 2013, 671,673 tons more quarry materials were produced than in 2012. The industry projects that in 2014 quarry production would reach 1,000,000 tons.
It was noted that the largest quarry producer for 2012 and 2013 is BK Quarries with 277,103 and 451,367 respectively. This company intends to increase its production by 100% in 2014 with the introduction of a new crushing plant.
The smallest producer being Durban Quarries started operating in mid-2012 and produced 2,900 tons while 7,458 tons were produced 2013. Their current market has mainly been in Parika, however, a tug and barge has been recently acquired to supply customer demands in the new and emerging markets within the Demerara.
The Ministry related that these five operations and are relatively competitive. And, only recently Government has been encouraging investment in new quarries to make the sector more competitive and increase outputs.
In February last, a meeting convened by the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud with the Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Finance, the quarry companies have indicated that their production will increase to meet those demands, as well as producing to meet the demands of the private sector.
The Ministry related some of the factors influencing the shortage are transportation on land and river- due to road conditions and lack of river dredging, limited accessibility to barge; and operational challenges for example low staff turnout, and machinery maintenance.
However, a contractor who usually executes works in Region Seven has been complaining about the shortage of aggregates. The man related that even though quarry operations are in Region Seven it is unfortunate that aggregates are not easily accessible. As such, many projects within the Region have been delayed.
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