Omar Anderson, Staff ReporterTHE MINISTRY of Mining and Energy said it has identified a possible permanent source of aggregate (gravel stone) in western Jamaica. The find could halt major importation of the construction material.
"We have identified some of this material in Lottery, Hanover, and we are taking samples and analysing it to see whether it's suitable for that kind of use," Commissioner of Mines, Coy Roache, told The Sunday Gleaner last week.
He said a sample of the aggregate on the private land is being tested to see if it is sufficiently skid resistant. Gravel stone is mostly used to surface roads and airport runways.
Renovation
Mr. Roache said the find was made near the beginning of the last financial year when the Ministry embarked on a programme to find suitable aggregate islandwide. He added that the discovery of the aggregate in Hanover would also benefit any future renovation of the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, as it would cost less to truck the material there, compared to a location at a greater distance.
In 1996 there were heated debates over the importation of aggregate from Canada for use in the US$18 million rehabilitation of the Norman Manley International Airport. Local engineers and contractors argued that similar quality material could be sourced here.
Garth Jackson, president of the Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE), said last week that the new find would benefit the construction industry and Jamaica if the feasibility study of the aggregate proves iy to be suitable.
"We in the construction industry and the civil engineering field are always looking for new and more effective sources of material to ensure we can compete and give a better value for money," he said.
