Construction firm purchases eight 20-tonne excavators

OAS Constructora, the Brazilian firm constructing the $7.5 billion Solomon Hochoy highway extension has purchased eight 20-tonne excavators at a cost of US$1.5 million for work on the project. The equipment was purchased from FT Farfan Limited, sole local agents for JCB construction equipment.

At a handing over ceremony yesterday, OAS equipment manager Carlos  Albuquerque said it made economic sense to purchase the equipment rather than rent it from local contractors. “When we buy brand new machines it is better when rent from the contractor because at the end of the year, I would have paid almost the cost of one brand new machine,”  he said adding that cutting costs had been part of his job since he joined OAS in 1988.

Albuquerque said the machines were bought at a special discount. Asked about the challenges being faced by OAS, Albuquerque said the biggest was bad weather. Another problem was that relocation process was still ongoing and houses had to be moved along the Debe, Mon Desir and Point Fortin routes. he directed further queries about the highway’s route to officials of the National Infrastructure Development Company of T&T (Nidco).

Industrial sales director at FT Farfan Derek Cummings said the purchase of the equipment augured well for local content. He said the highway project would last between four to five years so it was economical for the company to purchase its own equipment.

“They have taken a business decision to invest in more equipment and we thank them for buying from local operators like ourselves. We are not the only company that supplied equipment to the job,” he said. Cummings expressed hope that there would be further business opportunities for local companies.