Strict Conditions To Be Imposed For Import Of Construction Aggregates

It seems an unprecedented governmental rigidness will be imposed on the importers of construction aggregates or crushed stones (murram) in the local market by implementing new measures on this commercial activity that will guarantee better quality of the product in line with international standards, reports Al-Rai daily. According to informed sources, the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) is considering imposing a new specification on aggregates that will be mandatory especially on those with government contracts.

The authority recently conducted an audit of the imported aggregates, and concluded that a large percentage of the quantities that reach Kuwait for the purpose of paving roads are of substandard quality, and will vary after they are used on the streets.

According to the proposed scenario that is expected to be presented to the Board of Directors of PAI soon, companies that do not adhere to the new specifications will be deprived of the right to participate in government projects. This privilege will be limited to those who will apply the new specifications for aggregates, and will receive priority in obtaining lands from PAI in its contracts for development projects. The companies adhering to the new specifications will also receive benefits from the state in terms of the prescribed fees, enjoy exemptions, receive preference for awarding government tenders and will be allocated storage lands for expansion.

On the other hand, those who are non-compliant will be deprived of all these benefits. Their business is limited to non-governmental commercial activities, and their customers will be informed that the offered product does not fully comply with the applicable standards.

The sources stressed that the PAI inspectors will tighten their control over this commercial activity more during the coming period in an effort to increase the efficiency of the supplied product in the local market. They said PAI, according to the proposed scenario, will give priority to Kuwaiti companies that import construction aggregates from abroad, specifically from the United Arab Emirates, adding that the product will be checked twice – the first on the ship transporting the product, and the second when the product arrives in Kuwait. It is also planned that a joint local laboratory will be established to test these goods.

In another development, the sources revealed that PAI inspection teams recently conducted an extensive inspection tour aimed at inspecting brick factories. They explained that the inspection tour included 42 factories working in this sector, and it was discovered that 35 of them did not comply with the required quality specifications. It is worth mentioning that Kuwait imports about 16.5 million tons of construction aggregates per year for use in construction and road paving, according to estimates for the year 2019. There are two main types of construction aggregates that are imported and used in Kuwait – limestone and gabbro.

 

 

 

SOURCE  ARABTIMES

Comments Post Comment

Leave a Comment

Submit