More stone crushers should be set up in Mauritius

The country is running out of aggregates which is hampering major projects like the extension works at the airport, road constructions and sports infrastructure, port development, industrial, leisure complex, implementation of the low-cost housing programme and skyscrapers.

The association of large building companies, the Building & Civil Engineering Contracts Association (BASECA), just like Gamma Materials Ltd believe that more stone crushers should be set up across the country to meet the growing market demand.

In the same vein, a project proposal has been submitted to the government.

“The importance of raw materials for the production of aggregates and rock sand is clear. An increase in demand combined with the cessation of coral sand extraction activities and finite reserves of boulders will result in short fall of supply against demand in the foreseeable future unless means are explored to meet demand. Thus rock quarrying is a perquisite for development in Mauritius as a source of raw materials for the production constructions materials”, stated Gamma Materials Ltd in its project submitted to the Ministry of Environment.

The project aims to set up a new crusher at St Julien d’Hotman.

BASECA administrative officer Alain Hardy said that Gamma Civic is right in saying that there is a need for additional crushers to supply more aggregates for big future projects.

According to United Basalt Products Ltd director Jean-Michel Giraud, it is likely that more aggregates could be needed in some areas