Preparations are progressing smoothly for the commencement of pavement works on the second phase of the Tema Port Expansion Project. To ensure adherence to project timelines and uphold quality standards, the MPS Project Team, in collaboration with Consulting Engineers AECOM, conducted an inspection of the Eastern Quarries Ltd casting plant at Shai-Hills. The primary objective of this inspection was to assess the production compliance with project specification , both in terms of meeting required standards and adhering to the construction timeline.

Quality Assurance and Safety:

Madam Imane Belhaj, MPS Construction Manager, gave emphasis to the project’s unwavering commitment to maintaining safety and quality standards in all aspects, including materials used. The site visit was conducted with a Quality, Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (QHSSE) perspective, and observations made during the visit are being compiled into a report for sharing with the contractor. Mrs. Belhaj emphasized the project’s rigorous approach to ensuring high standards are upheld throughout.

Eastern Quarries Ltd:

Eastern Quarries Ltd, a Ghanaian company renowned for its extensive experience in building material and civil engineering construction, is a key player in producing the high-quality pavement blocks needed for the project. The company stands out as one of the largest distributors of concrete Products, aggregate and road base materials in Ghana, with a quarry boasting an impressive annual production capacity of approximately 2 million tons and an estimated operational life exceeding 100 years. It plays a crucial role in providing a wide range of building material and civil engineering construction products, aligning well with the De Simone Group’s objectives.

Production Timeline:

The MPS Project Team examined the production cycle for a batch of blocks made on the 7th of September 2023. Following moulding, these blocks underwent a critical curing process, involving storage in a curing room for a minimum of 48 hours. Subsequently, they were protected by a geotextile and regularly watered for at least one week to ensure proper curing and hardening. The production cycle for these blocks spans approximately two weeks before they are ready for delivery to the project site.

Pavement Block Specifications:

The visit provided an opportunity to assess the production, curing, storage, and testing process for pavement blocks. A total of 16 samples were tested to approve the design mix. These pavement blocks, measuring 200x100x100 mm, weigh 4.73kg each and boast a tensile strength of 3.6 MPa. This robust design ensures the blocks can withstand the weight and pressure exerted by heavy machinery operating on them, a critical consideration for the project’s success.

In a symbolic gesture, the first pavement block was transported from the casting plant at Shai-Hills to the MPS offices at Terminal 3 of Tema Port. Mr. Rachid Alfa-Traore, the MPS Project Manager, presented this block to Mr. Mohamed Samara, CEO of MPS, marking an important step in the project’s progress.

For the Tema Port Expansion Project, a total of 14 million blocks will be used. During the pavement works, it is anticipated that over 100 skilled workers will be on-site to efficiently install these blocks.