Modern Quarrying July-August 2016

July - August 2016

MODERN QUARRYING

GLOBAL

AGGREGATES

FOCUS

the

spotlight

are full member aggregates association

in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica,

Guatemala, Panama and in the Dominion

Republic, with other countries in the

region represented by companies or

observers.

The total regional market is estimated

at 1,9-billion t, equivalent to 2,9 t/capita,

the biggest components being Brazil,

Colombia, Chile and Mexico. Overall, the

region has exciting growth prospects

driven by a growing population par-

ticularly in the major cities, with huge

demand for better housing, better trans-

port infrastructure and healthcare.

The region has challenges in precari-

ous political systems, which can have neg-

ative impacts on stability and economic

growth, together with poor regulation

which leads to unfair competition in the

aggregates industry. On the positive side,

responsible operators can obtain permits

within two years for durations up to 30

years. FIPA is a positive force in improving

the industry in the region.

Europe

Describing the challenges face in Europe,

secretary-general of UEPG (European

Aggregates Association), Dirk Fincke,

explains that UEPG represents the aggre-

gates industry across 29 countries (most

of the EU 28 plus EFTA) and has a high-

ly-efficient small office with three staff in

Brussels, where the key European institu-

tions are located.

Europe has 24 working languages

with a wide variety of cultures, most

now using Euro currency. Europe has suf-

fered a long recession, with aggregates

production declining 30% from 2008 to

2,6-billion t in 2015, equivalent to 5,0 t/

capita, now with a slight recovery.

UEPG actively lobbies and works with

the European institutions as well as other

representative bodies andNGOs. Its top pri-

orities include better access to resources as

part of the Raw Materials Strategy; green

and blue growth in fostering biodiversity;

the upcoming regulation of Respirable

Crystalline Silica; and campaigning against

illegal operators – more prevalent in some

central and southern European countries.

New Zealand

Apologieswere received fromRoger Parton,

executive director of AQA (Aggregates &

Quarry Association of New Zealand). The

output of the aggregates industry there suf-

fered amajor decline from2006 to 2011 but

now is in a very positive growth, driven by

new housing around Auckland, the devel-

opment of highways between the major

cities and the post-earthquake rebuilding

in Christchurch. Access to resources is a

challenge around the major cities, though

even NGOs now recognise the need for

aggregates, and recycling is being pushed

very actively.

Due to a coal mine tragedy, health and

safety is now being strongly regulated

with the aggregates industry regarded as

part of the mining sector.

AQA is proactive in developing safety

best practice guidelines for the aggre-

gates industry.

Canada

Apologies were received from the Ontario

Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (OSSGA),

which represents the industry in Ontario.

However, the aggregates industry con-

tinues to prosper there as the greater

Toronto areas continues to develop;

though with increasing difficulties in get-

ting access to resources in the surround-

ing Greater Golden Horseshoe area.

OSSGA actively participated in the

recent Provincial Plan Review, the results

of which recognised the importance of

aggregates, yet gave little consolation

in better facilitating permitting. The

Association is campaigning for a more

positive industry image, counteracting a

recent negative social media campaign.

There are also aggregates associations

in the Alberta and British Colombia prov-

inces, though there is as yet no national

Canadian association.

Average aggregates consumption in

Canada is around 13 t/capita which, like

Scandinavia, is typical for a developed,

rugged, sparsely-populated country with

a severe climate.

Global aggregates estimate

Presenting an overview of his best data

for global aggregates production, honor-

ary president UPEG and GAIN coordinator

Jim O’Brien says best estimates indicate a

global production of 40-billion t, of which

60% of covered by China, India and the

rest of Asia. This represents about 5,3 t/

capita for a population of 7,5-billion.

At a global level, the industry still

remains fragmented. The top 20 global

aggregates producers comprise only 5,0%

of production, with the remaining 95%

being produced by SMEs. Empirical data

indicated that t/capita increases as GDP/

capita increases; in other words, more

aggregates are needed as an economy

develops. Anticipated growth in global

population and GDP/capita would indi-

cate that by 2030, global aggregates

production will increase to 55-billion t,

a very positive message for the industry.

The next GAIN meeting in 2018 has

been proposed to take place in Spain.

www.uepg.eu

Report by JimO’Brien and summarised

by Dale Kelly. Please note that the papers

presented will be summarised in the next

issue of

Honorary president UPEG and GAIN coordinator

Jim O’Brien (photograph Dale Kelly).

International and local delegates photographed at the GAIN

conference in Somerset West (photograph courtesy Aspasa).