SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
@SunZambian
A UNITED States of America (USA) based company, Terra Pave International, has shown interest to start constructing cost-effective and environment friendly roads in Zambia.
Terra Pave International president Professor Yetkin Yildirim said his company had invented a chemical called Terra Prime which stabilizes and makes gravel roads look like paved ones.
Prof Yildirim said this in Lusaka yesterday when he made a presentation on Terra Prime to Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Vincent Mwale at his Office in Lusaka.
This is contained in a statement issued by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development public relations officer Jeff Banda.
Prof. Yildirim said the chemical when applied on gravel roads it bonded and stabilized the soil thereby making the road waterproof and lasted long.
“Terra Prime, is not only used on gravel roads but also used for increasing the life span of bituminous roads. When the chemical is applied on bituminous roads it seals off the road and thereby increases their life span.” Professor Yildirim said.
The Professor went on to explain that once Terra Prime was used to construct roads, the cost of construction reduces up to 75 percent compared to asphalt roads and gives the road a life span of about 16 years.
“Terra Pave International is now constructing roads all over the world. Apart from the United States of America my company is working in South America, Africa and Europe. In Africa we are currently working in Rwanda, Cameron, Morocco and South Africa.” Prof Yildirim told the minister.
And Mr. Mwale said the technology being used by Terra Pave International was welcome and it is what government needs at the moment.
“This innovation is welcome here in Zambia, but my technocrats will engage you further so that we are convinced with the effectiveness of this type of technology in road construction,
“However, I must be quick to tell you that my Ministry wants to see value for money not only in road construction by construction in general,” Mr Mwale said.
Mr Mwale said President Edgar Lungu has made it very clear that government must scale down on constructing bituminous roads and concentrate on gravel ones because of the current national fiscal position.
The Minister noted that the technology by Terra Pave International would therefore help in bettering construction of gravel roads.
Terra Prime which is invented by the University of Texas at Austin is a polymer-based emulsion that requires water dilution and it does not contain solvents or cause damage to roads or vehicles and it is easily applied, requiring no special equipment or handling procedures.
