By Goth Mohamed Goth
The Minister in Charge of Presidential Affairs Hon Hersi Haji Hassan, Minister of Water resources Hon Hussein Abdullah and Hon Abdirahman Mahmoud Aideed, the Mayor of Hargeisa were among dignitaries attending a function the showcasing of the Asphalt sealing application, a new cost effective technology for road construction and dams by Mandar Group of companies on Saturday evening at Mansoor Hotel.
The Mayor of Hargeisa speaking at the showcasing event said, “The asphalt cement used in road construction and maintenance is one of many products refined from crude oil and it was cheap and environmentally safe and the first trial will be done on the road that ply’s between University of Hargeisa and Pepsi suburb located in the southern fringes of Hargeisa city.
The Minster of Presidency Hon Hersi Ali Haji Hassan speaking at the venue said, “I saw the new technology while been showcased at the recently concluded Somaliland /UK trade exhibition in London, UK by Mandar group of Companies, the new road construction technology will save up to 50% the costs used in the construction of roads in the country.
“We hope to use this technology to construct asphalt road that connects Saylac to Las Qorey and eventually road which will link the whole country this part of the current government led by President Silanyo to develop the country’s infrastructure which as you are aware of has significant importance for employment and economic growth improving the wellbeing of the people in Somaliland”, Hon Hersi.
On his part the chairman of Mandar Group of Companies, Mr. Eid Ali Salaan, “Asphalt seal-coat treatments are mainly a preventive maintenance procedure applied to the asphalt pavement surface to prevent or delay costly corrective measures.
Mr. Eid went on to elaborate on the new technology said, “Asphalt seal coats are surface treatments designed to seal and protect the asphalt pavement from harmful environmental conditions such as sunlight, rain, and snow. Surface treatments are also applied to enhance the wearing properties and improve the traction between the pavement and vehicle tires. The curing time for a paving-grade asphalt cement application is fast because as soon as the material cools, it achieves full strength. It is pure asphalt cement without additives such as solvents or emulsifying agent and that the technology was first invented by the University of Texas and was first used by the U.S military in construction of roads.