Construction on Praslin affected by lack of blocks |15 October 2020

According to the Seychelles Broadcasting (SBC) crew on Praslin, building contractors on La Digue and Praslin that are undertaking construction work are finding it difficult to move on with their projects due to a lack of blocks.

This is because the main constructions material provider on Praslin, UCPS, is producing less blocks because one of its machines has broken down.

According to the manager of the UCPS plant based at Grand Anse Praslin, Mervin Austin, it has been over two months since the machine broke down.

UCPS is presently working to import the necessary part to fix the block-making equipment and Mr Austin noted that its operations expect to return to normal soon.

“We are experiencing a breakdown hence that affects our production of blocks. Our crusher is down at the moment[…] just like the pandemic has had an effect on everyone else, we are waiting for spares from our overseas suppliers. It has been down for three months now,” stated Mr Austin.

In the meantime, UCPS is transporting blocks from Mahé to Praslin onboard its cargo vessel for Praslin and La Digue residents.

As a result, the cost of the blocks has increased at a subsidized rate but this new price will be temporary.

Praslinois contractor Barry Souffe observed that he used to buy blocks at R15 but is now acquiring them at a cost of around R20 to R23.

“Basically, what we are doing at the moment is that as we get in confirmed demands, we are then shipping the blocks to get maximum utilisation of the voyage coming in. I think the pricing structure that the executive management had put in place is a price that is pretty fair to get the products here.”

CCCL, another construction material supplier on the island, Baie Ste Anne has acquired two machines to produce blocks, a service which it previously did not offer, but has yet to put them to use.

Source: SBC News