B’dos asphalt firm on regional path

ASPHALT PROCESSORS INCORPORATED (API), which controls the entire local asphalt market in Barbados, is preparing to pave a path into the region thanks to a new grade bitumen.

Errol Lynch, managing director, told Business Authority the bitumen (British name for asphalt) can be designed to meet any climatic condition. “We are using it to add stiffness to the asphalt binder which would help prevent rutting and shoving at the high stress areas, mainly roundabouts,” he said. Asked about how newly introduced concrete roads would impact on API, Lynch stated his confidence that asphalt was here to stay. In both the short and long term, asphalt would be cheaper than concrete, he said. “We have lost the urban roads to concrete, but I don’t know if that trend will continue. We are targetting outside markets to ensure that the plant remains viable,” Lynch added.

Suriname was one of the first external markets but the company, now into its second year of operation, supplies Jamaica with 40 tonnes of asphalt per month, has a year-long contract in St Kitts, made inroads into St Vincent three months ago and is looking to go further. Carmetta Wiggins of CGL Trading Incorporated, consultant to API, said that within one year API has been able to supply 100 percent of the emulsions needed locally because of competitive pricing. The company has also helped customers to avoid stockpiling.

Of the recently held regional seminar which examined Innovations in Asphalt Technology, Wiggins said the bringing together of the various contractors and ministries of public works officials served as a stepping stone to the formation of a regional association, which would have links with the United States associations in this area.  This would provide network support for those working in the industry so they could help each other deal with any problems. Lynch said the seminar should help them with entry into new markets as several regional contractors were also in attendance.  API needs additional markets to ensure that the plant remains viable. The plant is in operation only 11 days per month to satisfy current demands. “We want to run for longer periods. We keep a small staff and teach them different skills so that when the plant is offstream they could be incorporated into different areas,” he said.

As for the plant’s future there are some other plans in the works, but the managing director did not disclose them. Lynch said since operations started, API made other products apart from what are offered in Barbados, and sold to Suriname.