05-06-03 Judging from the reports coming out of Lake Asphalt of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd in the last two weeks, the asphalt industry seems poised for growth. We have heard news of two major breakthroughs in this industry which hitherto seemed incapable of finding new ways to effectively penetrate world markets.
First, it was the patenting in the United States of Dolly Nicholas’ innovative method of transforming raw asphalt into powdered form which was reported in last week’s edition of the Express Business. Nicholas is a chemist and shareholder in Couva-based Asphalt Product Trinidad.

In powdered form, asphalt can be exported cheaper to foreign markets. Then, Lake Asphalt announced it had developed another way of reducing export costs. As reported, palletising the raw pitch would make it cheaper to export to markets in Europe, the United States and China.
With so many new airport runways, ports, and highways under construction throughout the world, this indigenous product could well become one of Trinidad and Tobago’s flagship exports given the production innovation. For many years the Pitch Lake at La Brea had come to be regarded largely as a place with tourism value and little was done to research its vast pitch reserves. One expert has said the Lake is virtually bottomless.

Trinidad’s asphalt has been used in many parts of the world with resounding successes but the cost of transportation, in bulky steel drums, has been so expensive that road builders have limited its use and resorted to inferior substitute material.
Ironically although our pitch is highly-regarded the worldover, at home its use has also been limited for one reason or another. Recognising this shortcoming the management of Lake Asphalt has for sometime been complaining about the "alarmingly low percentage of usage of asphalt in the local road construction sector".

Maybe with the new developments that could all change. The part played by Nicholas in making this resource a more user-friendly product should not be underestimated. In fact in 2002 she had been awarded the Chaconia Silver Medal in recognition of her research and creativity in asphalt production. She continues to find new ways of building world recognition for the product.
Perhaps what is needed now is a concerted drive to turn Trinidad Lake Asphalt into a more profitable and dynamic organisation capable of competing effectively on the world stage. The goal of the company should be to produce and supply high-quality natural asphalt and bituminous materials to local, regional and international markets. That can only be achieved with the full support of all stakeholders.