KUCHING, April 2: The Sarawak Quarries Association (SQA) hopes to meet relevant authorities and agencies urgently to address the plights and challenges in the quarry industry, especially the escalating material costs.
SQA chairman Simon Lau said the price of quarry blasting materials specifically the Bulk Emulsion has increased from RM3,950 to RM6,650 per metric ton while Ammonia Nitrate has gotten more expensive from RM2,400 to RM4,400 per metric tone.
Besides that, the price of industrial diesel has also ballooned from RM2 to RM4.35 per litre, not including the doubling prices of spare parts.
To make things worse, he said, there has also been a shortage of workers and blasting materials supply which caused delays and a significant reduction in the production output of aggregates.
“Another persistent issue was the long waiting time for the renewal of expired quarry licenses, with no specific time frame given by the relevant authority as to how long the renewal application will take.
“Several SQA members are still waiting for their licenses to be renewed, even after more than one year, and this has affected them financially and the workers facing long periods of unemployment and no income.
“Any interruption in the supply of the aggregates to the construction and infrastructure development projects will hamper the pace of Sarawak’s development,” he said in a statement today.
Lau, on behalf of all SQA members, thus pushed for a meeting with relevant authorities or agencies to address the issues which were brought up during SQA’s recent annual general meeting (AGM). — DayakDaily
