Gov’t to procure asphalt plant from Germany

Feb 12, 2017 News

Following a visit by top officials of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to Germany a few days

Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson

ago, the Guyana Government will now be moving to procure an asphalt plant with the aim of quickening the pace of executing infrastructural works in the country.
This was disclosed by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, early last week.
Patterson led a technical team to Frankfurt, Germany, where they visited the engineering plants of Benninghoven GmbH and Company – which is a member company of the Wirtgen Group.
The group is regarded as the world’s leading source of road equipment including granulators and asphalt plants, both mobile and stationary.
The company also includes the five well-known brands, Wirtgen, Vögele, Hamm, Kleemann and Benninghoven, with their headquarters in Germany and production sites in Brazil, India and China.
Benninghoven GmbH and Company also collaborates with the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) which produces approximately 70 percent of Guyana’s asphaltic concrete.
However, according to Patterson, the plant is “quite old” and interventions are needed now if the Ministry aims to satisfy the ever-present demand.
“We went to Germany to look at the possibility and the options we have in procuring the asphalt plant which will at minimum, produce 160 tonnes per hour and obviously, will be more efficient. And we will be able to drive the cost down not only for the Ministry, but for the contractors as well, so that we can do much more and that will fulfil one of my mandates,”

DHBC’s Asphalt Plant

the Minister said.
Patterson’s revelation will come against the backdrop of complaints by Guyanese over the years about the sloth in contractors carrying out projects in many parts of the country. When pressed, the cries of contractors would often be directed to the lack, or insufficient supply of asphalt and bitumen.
Patterson was quizzed on the cost of the plant. He responded by saying that it will be “manageable”, nevertheless, the Ministry is currently looking at financing options.
In 2016, the DHBC’s asphalt plant produced a total of 42,471.06 tonnes of asphalt with $930,206,045 worth of the material being sold to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and $588,952,635 from other sales, taking the total sale of asphaltic concrete to $1,519,158,680.
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure through the Transport and Harbours Department is responsible for the management and operation of the DHBC asphalt plant.

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