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Production increases dramatically at Govt. – owned asphalt plant
Government’s asphalt plant at Garden of Eden is on a full turn around with its highest production recorded in July,
DHB’ General Manager, Rawlston Adams
more than eight years after it was installed.
With several road projects and under infrastructural works in progress, the demand for asphalt, a key road building material has been at an all time high.
In August last year, the plant was handed over to the Demerara Harbour Bridge to be managed. Prior to that, it was under the operations of the Transport and Harbours Department, an entity that also falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Works.
Responding to questions recently on the plant, General Manager of the Bridge, Rawlston Adams, disclosed that since taking over the management of the plant on August 1, 2013, several major changes were made, including installation of a number of major components that were missing.
The plant was supplied by an Indian company.
For July alone, production was in excess of 5,000 tonnes, a signal that the interventions were working.
A number of contracting firms also have asphalt plants including BK International, Nauth and Son and DipCon Engineering.
“We are working in an environment where we are holding our own and of course we are pleased with the progress of the plant so far,” Adams said.
The plant would be part of the increased responsibilities handed to the management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
In recent years also, the Ministry of Public Works has also handed the maintenance responsibilities of several bridges across the coasts to the management of the Plant.
These included the many structures along the Railway Embankment Line on the East Coast of Demerara and even bridges as far away as Moleson Creek, in East Berbice, Corentyne.
According to Adams, the bridges in question use decking similar to that of the
The Garden of Eden asphalt plant in operation.
Harbour Bridge.
“This has served to help streamline maintenance operations in a more cost effective manner as there were times we were able to modify these decks to conduct repairs on the road bridges. This saves the Government and taxpayers lots of monies as we also used our own, in-house engineers.”
According to the General Manager, his team has been able to conduct fortnightly inspections of the bridges and slot in strategic times for repairs.
“It is all about organization and when it all comes down to it, we are able to work out the maintenance using our various teams.”
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