Pahw Calls For Resolving Issue Of Bitumen Supplies Shortage

08 January 2020 Business

Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has requested Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) to provide the required share of asphalt to meet the needs of projects, as they are not sufficient for the projects being implemented in Al-Mutlaa and South Abdullah Al-Mubarak, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The daily quoting a source indicated PAHW has called for resolving the issue of shortage of “bitumen” supplies and to provide adequate shares for housing projects so that roads can be completed as per the agreed timetables. He explained that “meeting with the company has already been held to provide adequate shares, but the synchronization of road projects and re-asphalting of some major and minor roads in the residential areas, indirectly affected supplies.”

He said “the Public Authority for Housing Welfare addressed the National Petroleum Company several days ago to resolve the issue of lack of supplies and increase its share from 350 to 650 tons per day for a period of 6 months, but there was no response from the company on this issue.”

He praised determined efforts made by the Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of Public Works Dr Rana Al-Faris and Director General of Public Authority for Housing Welfare Engineer Bader Al-Waqyan to resolve the problem. It was expected that Minister Al-Faris will meet with the Oil Minister Dr Khaled Al-Fadhil soon to discuss the problem and find quick solutions to it.” He stated that providing 650 tons of bitumen per day will serve 5 contracts in Al-Mutlaa and South Abdullah Al- Mubarak. He indicated Kuwait National Petroleum Company had clarified to housing officials in previous meetings that the capacity to provide the material is limited and they only have a strategic stock to provide, something that needs to be studied before distribution is approved.

The source emphasized that housing authority was trying to meet the needs of vital projects with the daily quota of 350 tons, but it was not sufficient, and therefore it is inevitable to increase it. The source stressed that shortage of bitumen will affect housing projects, as bitumen is an essential element before asphalt laying, and if it is not available, work will be disrupted. He pointed out that “the daily quota is currently distributed to some strategic projects so that the work continues,” noting the alternatives are to provide the material from the strategic stock of Kuwait National Petroleum Company or import it from abroad.” Three entities in the country, namely Ministry of Public Works, Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport and Public Authority for Housing Welfare, according to the source, consume approximately 85% of the daily output of bitumen.

 

SOURCE : ARABTIMES

: 479

Comments Post Comment

Leave a Comment