“THE COMMISSIONING OF BAHAMIX’S NEW ASPHALT PLANT & SITE”
FIRE TRAIL ROAD WEST OFF GLADSTONE ROAD
 
3:30 PM MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH 2007

Salutations…

Today it gives me great pleasure to have been able to invite all here today at yet another significant milestone event for the Ministry of Works.

By way of background information, it should be noted that
Prior to 1979 there was only one company “Bahama Pavers” providing road paving services to the Government. This service proved inadequate and as a result the Government found it necessary to purchase a Hot Mix Plant so as to provide a quality mix for resurfacing existing roads and surfacing of new roads at an economical rate per ton.
Therefore, in 1981 a used Stansteel Asphalt Mixing Plant was purchased along with paving equipment and trucks and public Road paving commenced under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Works, headed by a consultant from the United States.

Unfortunately, the Stansteel Mixing Plant had problems with the acquisition of parts, unacceptable downtime and resultantly, the cessation of road paving, patching and the inability of the consultant to manage these operations.

In July 1986 a Bahamix revolving account was established, and a “quasi” Board was put in place to set guidelines and approve purchases for the operations.  However, at the end of September 1987 a breakdown of the Stansteel Plant caused a thorough investigation to be carried out which revealed that the cost for repairs were prohibitive, and the consultants proved ineffective in training and motivating the staff. With the ongoing roadwork, materials had to be purchased from Bahamas Hot Mix Co. Ltd a private Company, and a decision was made to purchase a used plant from Astec of the United States.

With the purchase of this plant, the Government entered into a two year contract with Associated Holdings Ltd. of the United Kingdom for the services of a General Manager, a Plant Manager and a Technical Manager this latter to visit for inspection purposes three (3) times a year.  These persons came to The Bahamas in October 1988 to supervise the construction of the used plant and prepare and train the staff for the new operation. This refurbished Astec Plant was commissioned in February 1989 and road paving continued with a heavy demand from the private sector, because of the improved quality of the materials.

This ladies and Gentlemen was the formation of what we know today as Bahamix.

Mr. Ryan Rahming, an Assistant Engineer, was stationed at Associated Asphalt in the United Kingdom, where he received an intensive eighteen (18) month on-the-job training in all aspects of bituminous material.

His training further covered the planning of road paving projects, costing, equipment maintenance, quantity surveying and traffic management during paving exercises.  Upon the return of Mr. Rahming  to The Bahamas at the end of June 2002 a decision was taken to terminate the contract with the UK based Company and Mr. Rahming was appointed the first Bahamian to assume responsibility for the operation. This was in keeping with the Christie’s administration policy of putting qualified Bahamians first.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Bahamix is uniquely different from any other asphalt company on the Island of New Providence in that the Ministry of Works contracts Bahamix daily to execute the paving program prepared each fiscal year by its Civil Designs Section as  part of the Government’s agenda the to ensure the provision of properly paved  roads.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am certain that the Honourable Minister of Transport would agree that roads contribute to the development of the society. Roads also contribute to our economic welfare.  As the main provider of personal mobility, roads also contribute to social integration by reducing the geographical handicap of periphery economies and bringing citizens closer together.
This Government firmly believes that roads are an undeniable source of socio-economic welfare and will continue to play a dominant role in the transport of goods and people throughout the Bahamas.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Bahamix is the Government’s manufacturing and service oriented division under the Ministry of Works.  And over the years its plant production data reveals the following:  years 2002 through 2006 the production was as follows:
2002 - 34,275.58 Tons
2003 - 18,646.17 Tons
2004 - 16,593.13 Tons
2005 - 29,459.31 Tons
2006 - 37,020.50 Tons
2007 - 2,623.59   Tons 1 1/2 months.

The Astec manufactured asphalt plant has been operating for 19 years and its’ current state reveals its age. The metal corrosion to individual plant components is extensive and translates in very real terms to high maintenance costs. Down time for repairs affects the economic efficiency of the operation. The estimated down time for plant repairs over the last five years is 4 weeks per annum. The plant supplies asphalt to two paving crews and private road builders. The transport of asphalt from the plant to the paving crews is provided by privately operated tandem dump trucks.

BAHAMIX NEW ASPHALT PLANT - ALMIX MODEL 76 DUO DRUM CF
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to commission this new state of the art asphalt plant which the Government has purchased from Almix, a plant manufacturing company, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  I am advised that the new Almix Asphalt Plant offers technology that is much needed in our changing Bahamas.
I am further advised that the product that Bahamix will now offer will benefit its’ customers in two ways.  First, the product will be aesthetically pleasing when laid, and secondly the product will have a pavement life of a minimum of 10 years and depending on the frequency usage can extend to 20-25 years.
Additionally, speed and rate of production are the key areas which will further distinguish Bahamix from all of its competitors.  Rapid and high rate production translates into shorter waiting time for the customer which means that Bahamix will be able to pave and repave more roads in a shorter time frame.

Unlike the existing Bahamix asphalt plant located at Arawak Cay, an “Astec” plant which was manufactured 30 years ago, the new Almix Model 76 Duo Drum is a counter flow “zero” emissions plant with an environmentally friendly bag house.

The Bag House will eliminate atmospheric contamination caused by particulate matter as is the case with the existing asphalt plant which operates on a “wet scrubber” system.   No longer will the public see a white cloud of steam hovering over the asphalt plant and this is important to the environment.

The plant is designed to produce any where from 90 to 200 tons per hour depending on aggregate and moisture variables. But to be specific, the Almix Model 76 Duo Drum can produce 160 tons per hour at 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

It should be noted that the cost of the asphalt plant is $986,430.00 without customs duty and its total cost, including location and site development i.e. foundations, electrical and office buildings is $2,248,355.44.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I take great pleasure to announce that Bahamix is now in a position to competitively provide asphalt hot and cold for all private contractors and those associated with the New Providence Road Improvement Project, a direct result of its’ new facilities.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are in that season where the Government’s detractors seek to criticize for any and everything under the sun.  However, I note with much interest that the criticism on the condition of the roads in New Providence is minimal.  The reality is that the Perry Christie’s Government has, been repaving, with deliberate speed, the roads here in New Providence:- from East to West and from North to South- embracing all Constituencies,   and the programme will  now be accelerated as we have brought a brand new state-of-the-art asphalt plant on stream.  To assist with the programme, the Government will be engaging private road paving contractors in the road repaving operation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would be remiss in not pointing out that a robust road paving programme is also ongoing in the Family Islands.  In East Grand Bahama some $6.0 million has been expended.  In west Grand Bahama roads that have not been paved or repaved, in “donkey’s year’s, are now being addressed.  Road works are also being carried out in Andros, Acklins; Cat Island, and Eleuthera.
And shortly contracts will be let for road works in Moore’s Island, and other area of Abaco, Crooked Island, Mayaguana, Ragged Island and Long Island.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to also take this opportunity to commend the staff at Bahamix who, over the years has been performing under challenging conditions in keeping the old plant at Arawak Cay operational. On behalf of the Government I extend sincerest gratitude to all, including the Truckers, for your contributions to our Bahamaland over the years.