wild places | wild happenings | wild news
make a difference for our wild places

home | links | search the site
  all articles latest | past | articles by topics | search wildnews
wild news on wildsingapore
  Building and Construction Authority Media Statement 4 Aug 07
Government Defers Quarrying Granite in Ubin

Channel NewsAsia 4 Aug 07
Plans to quarry for granite on Pulau Ubin being deferred: BCA

Straits Times 5 Aug 07
Granite situation better so quarrying on Ubin put off

Straits Times 4 Aug 07
Govt defers quarrying granite in Ubin

THE government has decided to put off quarrying granite in Pulau Ubin because of diversification in the building industry and adequate regional supplies.

'As the industry is able to diversify and import adequate granite from many sources, we have decided that there is no need to commence the physical extraction of granite from the quarry for the time being,' according to a Building and Construction Authority news release on Saturday.

The BCA said that 'the granite supply situation has improved significantly over the last one to two months'.

'There is adequate granite supply coming in from both nearby and new distant sources in the region.'

The BCA said 'as a result of this diversification of supply, there has not been any drawdown from the national stockpile from May'. It said prices of granite have also moderated and stabilised.

In April this year, the Government announced plans to carry out limited quarrying works at the Kekek Quarry in Pulau Ubin.

Over the past few months, the BCA carried out preparatory works for reactivating the Kekek Quarry. These included carrying out an environmental impact study, conducting water quality tests and regulatory reviews.

The BCA added that it is 'still keeping all our options open, including reactivating our own quarries if necessary'.

'The reactivation of our local quarries remains a part of our contingency plan to ensure supply resilience of essential construction materials.'

Straits Times 5 Aug 07
Granite situation better so quarrying on Ubin put off

THE Government has deferred plans to begin quarrying for granite on Pulau Ubin. This follows a significant improvement in the granite supply situation in the last two months, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said in a statement yesterday.

There is adequate granite supply coming in from both nearby and new distant sources in the region. As a result of this diversification of supply, there has not been any drawdown from the national stockpile since May. The BCA said granite prices are now stabilised between $23 and $29 a tonne.

In January, Indonesia imposed a ban on land sand exports and detained barges shipping granite to Singapore.

Plans to reopen Pulau Ubin's former granite quarry - Kekek Quarry - were announced in April.

Over the past few months, the BCA had been carrying out preparatory works to reactivate the Kekek Quarry. These included conducting an environmental impact study as well as carrying out water quality tests and regulatory reviews. BCA said it has gained useful experience and has a better understanding of the process for reactivating a quarry.

And as the industry is able to diversify and import adequate granite from many sources, there is currently no need to begin quarrying in Ubin, the BCA said in its statement.

It added, however, that 'we are still keeping all our options open, including reactivating our own quarries if necessary'. BCA said: 'The reactivation of our local quarries remains part of our contingency plan to ensure supply resilience of essential construction materials.'

The news was well received by nature groups. Dr Ho Hua Chew, chairman of the conservation committee of the Nature Society, said: 'A quarry is quite disturbing to wildlife, so this is definitely good news. I hope this decision is infinite.'

Channel NewsAsia 4 Aug 07
Plans to quarry for granite on Pulau Ubin being deferred: BCA

SINGAPORE : The government has deferred plans to begin quarrying for granite on Pulau Ubin following a significant improvement in the granite supply situation in the last two months.

The decision to carry out limited quarrying works at the Kekek Quarry in Pulau Ubin was announced in April this year after Indonesia, a major supplier of granite to construction companies in Singapore, banned the export of granite.

In a statement on Saturday, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) says there is now adequate granite supply coming in from both nearby and new distant sources in the region.

There has not been any draw down from the national stockpile since May and prices have also moderated and stabilised.

Over the past few months, preparatory works for reactivating the Kekek Quarry on Pulau Ubin had been carried out. These included an environmental impact study, conducting water quality tests and regulatory reviews.

BCA says these have been a useful experience, and have given a better understanding of the process involved in reactivating a quarry.

But although there is no need to begin quarrying for granite on Pulau Ubin for the time being, BCA says it is keeping all options open. And the reactivation of local quarries remains a part of contingency plans to ensure resilience in the supply of essential construction materials. - CNA/ch

Building and Construction Authority Media Statement 4 Aug 07
Government Defers Quarrying Granite in Ubin

Update on the Granite Supply Situation

1 The granite supply situation has improved significantly over the last one to two months. There is adequate granite supply coming in from both nearby and new distant sources in the region. As a result of this diversification of supply, there has not been any drawdown from the national stockpile from May. Prices of these materials have also moderated and stabilised. Quarrying at Pulau Ubin

2 In April this year, the Government announced plans to carry out limited quarrying works at the Kekek Quarry in Pulau Ubin. Over the past few months, we have carried out preparatory works for reactivating the Kekek Quarry. These included carrying out an environmental impact study, conducting water quality tests and regulatory reviews.

3 Having gained useful experience and a better understanding of the process for reactivating a quarry, and as the industry is able to diversify and import adequate granite from many sources, we have decided that there is no need to commence the physical extraction of granite from the quarry for the time being.

4 However, we are still keeping all our options open, including reactivating our own quarries if necessary. The reactivation of our local quarries remains a part of our contingency plan to ensure supply resilience of essential construction materials.
links
Mining work may start at Kekek Quarry in 3-6 months: Grace Fu
Channel NewsAsia 23 Apr 07

Related articles on Pulau Ubin
about the site | email ria
  News articles are reproduced for non-profit educational purposes.
 

website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com