Aftermath of December 7 explosion |16 December 2023
UCPS has given assurances that the company has all the stocks, the capacity to fill in the gap and produce enough material
UCPS guarantees availability of construction material and affordability
The United Concrete Products Seychelles (UCPS) has said there will be no increase in the prices of its construction material and people should not be doing any panic buying as there will be enough supplies to meet the demand.
It was the chief executive and executive chairman of the company, Gregory Albert, who made the announcement during a press conference yesterday afternoon at the company’s headquarters, Anse Des Genets, to give an update on the company’s operations in the aftermath of last week’s explosion at CCCL (Civil Construction Company Ltd). Also present was the company’s general manager, Andre Booyse.
Mr Albert said the company increased its price last year for the first time in 10 years. For its 53rd anniversary in May this year, UCPS offered a 10 percent discount for three months and decided to maintain the same price until the end of December 2023, said Mr Albert.
“The cost of construction material is a sensitive issue, and as a result of the country’s current predicament, the management has taken the decision to prolong the discount until further notice. This will give everybody, especially those affected, a chance to get back on their feet and to help our economy,” said Mr Albert.
In regard to the availability of construction material, Mr Albert said UCPS has just commissioned a new primary crusher on Il-di-Swet (South East Island) about three weeks ago. The new equipment, at a cost of R30 million, combined with the quarry in Anse Des Genets and the production line in Providence, will enhance production, thus there was no need for panic buying.
Mr Albert said for the past two years, the company has been exploring ways to increase its capacity and the crusher at Ile Du Swet will help in doubling the production.The company is also looking into setting up a second way bridge in Providence to accelerate loading and alleviate the long queues.
“I am here to re-assure everybody that UCPS has all the stocks, the capacity to fill in the gap and produce enough material so there is no reason to panic.”
“We are looking at the whole thing in a holistic approach to ensure there is enough material despite a peak in demand,” said Mr Albert.
UCPS added it was supplying its Praslin and La Digue customers with construction material from Mahé as its quarry on Praslin was not in operation due to breakdown of its crusher.
The company also said it was also not spared from the December 7 blast, which destroyed the doors and windows of its 32-unit flat in Brillant, as well as damaged a warehouse and a residential building for its employees in Providence.
As a precautionary measure following the blast, UCPS has moved all of its explosives used in quarrying work from Providence to a larger and safer location in Barbarons.
Text & photo by Patrick Joubert
