Housing, infrastructure projects to spur hike in gravel imports
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
QUARRY operators foresee a hike in demand for imported gravel in the near future as local supply will not keep pace with the anticipated requirements of big-scale housing and infrastructure projects.
Kok Ting Sin, general manager of Puni Quarry, said big housing development projects are likely to cause a shortage in local gravel, leaving contractors with no choice but to import from neighbouring Miri, Limbang and Sabah in Malaysia.
During the construction boom in the 1990s, the majority of gravel used in construction projects were imported while local quarry operators only provided "a portion" for domestic needs, according to a general manager of another quarry operator who spoke to The Brunei Times on condition of anonymity.
"Since the collapse of Amedeo, Brunei has seen a downturn in the construction sector. Because of decreasing demand, the country's production capacity has more or less halved. In 1997, there were around nine quarry operators in Temburong alone, but today there's only four."
Latest figures from the Housing Development Department put the waiting list for subsidised housing at around 17,000, though this will be cut by new programmes recently announced by the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).
Last April the BEDB announced its latest pilot scheme project to build 4,000 houses within a period of two years on a 48-hectare site at Mengkubau in Kg Mentiri.
The announcement followed a similar pilot scheme advertised last February for the construction of 2,000 houses in Kuala Belait within two years.
Earlier this month, the Sungai Liang Authority (SLA) announced a $12-million investment towards infrastructure development projects at Sungai Liang Industrial Park (Spark) expected for completion by April next year.
Tutong-based contractor Swee, which was awarded the contract through an open tender, will develop a road network, surface water drainage system and ancillary works including telecommunications exchange and IT networks, landscaping and security systems.
Last Monday, Brunei Methanol Company (BMC) announced the leasing of a $109.9-million marine export facility, expected for completion in February next year, from the BEDB for 22 years.
BMC's US$400-million plant in Sungai Liang is expected for completion by the end of the year.
The Brunei Times
Kok Ting Sin, general manager of Puni Quarry, said big housing development projects are likely to cause a shortage in local gravel, leaving contractors with no choice but to import from neighbouring Miri, Limbang and Sabah in Malaysia.
During the construction boom in the 1990s, the majority of gravel used in construction projects were imported while local quarry operators only provided "a portion" for domestic needs, according to a general manager of another quarry operator who spoke to The Brunei Times on condition of anonymity.
"Since the collapse of Amedeo, Brunei has seen a downturn in the construction sector. Because of decreasing demand, the country's production capacity has more or less halved. In 1997, there were around nine quarry operators in Temburong alone, but today there's only four."
Latest figures from the Housing Development Department put the waiting list for subsidised housing at around 17,000, though this will be cut by new programmes recently announced by the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).
Last April the BEDB announced its latest pilot scheme project to build 4,000 houses within a period of two years on a 48-hectare site at Mengkubau in Kg Mentiri.
The announcement followed a similar pilot scheme advertised last February for the construction of 2,000 houses in Kuala Belait within two years.
Earlier this month, the Sungai Liang Authority (SLA) announced a $12-million investment towards infrastructure development projects at Sungai Liang Industrial Park (Spark) expected for completion by April next year.
Tutong-based contractor Swee, which was awarded the contract through an open tender, will develop a road network, surface water drainage system and ancillary works including telecommunications exchange and IT networks, landscaping and security systems.
Last Monday, Brunei Methanol Company (BMC) announced the leasing of a $109.9-million marine export facility, expected for completion in February next year, from the BEDB for 22 years.
BMC's US$400-million plant in Sungai Liang is expected for completion by the end of the year.
The Brunei Times
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