Chinese delegation visits La Brea pitch lake

ONE month after a China-based firm expressed interest in obtaining asphalt from this country for the construction of the world’s largest airport in Beijing, a Chinese delegation yesterday briefly toured the La Brea pitch lake.

The tour came after the Chinese officials held a private meeting at state-owned Lake Asphalt of TT (LATT) at Brighton, La Brea.

LATT’s corporate communications coordinator, Marsha Marchan, said there will be an official signing of distributorship agreements between Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) and the Government.

The signing takes place at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Port of Spain.

“We are in the process of signing a distributorship agreement with Beijing Construction Engineering Group.

“Today marked the official visit to Lake Asphalt, basic discussions and a tour of the lake,” Marchan said. Chinese Ambassador to TT Song Yumin, deputy general manager of BCEG Zhang Chuan-Cheng and other Chinese representatives visited La Brea.

Chairman of the board of Lake Asphalt, Christopher John Williams, together with chief executive officer Roger Wiggins were also part of the tour together with La Brea MP Nicole Olivierre.

Last month, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley led a delegation to China and visited BCEG’s headquarters in Beijing. On his return, Rowley announced the company’s interest in TT’s pitch for the construction of the new Beijing International Airport.

He said then that the properties of TT’s asphalt was of the best quality for paving an airport tarmac.

LATT has been mining, processing and exporting asphalt products for more than 100 years.