Minister Edghill maintains Asphalt Plant not functioning

− says Patterson should apologise for misleading nation

Minister of Public Works, Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill has said that the Demerara Harbour Bridge Asphalt Plant is inoperable since three of its systems remain non-functional.

The Minister said after tests were conducted on the systems by a German engineer, it was discovered that the burner, bitumen-weighing scale and the granulate systems were not functioning.

Minster Edghill made these statements in a Letter to the Editor published in the Tuesday, January 5 edition of the Stabroek News.  He wrote to correct the assertions made by former Public Infrastructure Minister, Mr. David Patterson who has said that the Plant is functional in an article published by the same paper on Monday, January 4.

“Due to aforementioned issues (software and electronic components), the plant is not fully functional to date. I therefore, urge Mr. David Patterson to apologise to the nation for his misleading statements.”

Minister Edghill also said that in August 2020, he along with Minister within the Ministry, Hon. Deodat Indar, visited the Asphalt Plant to check on the progress of works.

During that visit, he said, the main power control cabinet was yet to be installed.

Minister Edghill said that testing of the systems was completed on November 25 and on December 12, the German Engineer started rechecking and verifying the electrical and electronic components of the structure.

After completing this, the engineer commenced testing of the systems including the cold reed system, conveyer systems, drying systems, burner, dust collection vibrating screen, and mixer systems, the hot aggregate storage, reclaimed filler silo and the bitumen weighing scale.

“The burner is presently not working due to a software controller, which has to be configured for the use of diesel fuel. The bitumen-weighing scale was unable to be tested as two load cells were not operable due to moisture, likewise the granulate system is unable to function as a result of a load cell that needs to be replaced,” he said.

The Minister also said the findings were reported to the factory, and that that Germans will stand the expenses of these components, given that the structure has not yet been commissioned.    The factory engineer left Guyana on January 4, 2021 and is expected to be back by mid-February for final testing and training of the local engineers and plant operators, he said.