Saudi Gazette report

AL-AHSA — A black market has emerged recently in selling asphalt scrap at various points in the cities and towns of Al-Ahsa. The price of a large truckload reaches SR350, including transportation, while the price of the small truckload is SR150.

Al-Ahsa Municipality and the Ministry of Transportation branch of the governorate distribute asphalt free of charge. The distribution mechanism depends on the implementation of asphalt projects and delivery according to priority.

Asians selling cement and sand and leasing equipment near the new housing plans told Al-Watan recently that they are buying scrap asphalt from others for up to SR300 for the big load and selling them with a profit margin of SR50 for the load and a profit margin of SR25 for the small load.

The sellers explained that some people get the asphalt scraps free of charge after communicating with the officials and those responsible for re-asphalting projects of the Ministries of Municipal Affairs and Rural Transportation, provided that the people benefiting from this commit to transferring the material from the site at their own expense, which necessitates following-up on projects sites.

The cost of moving asphalt scrap from the work site might reach SR250.

A buyer, who asked not to be identified, said he preferred to buy 3 large loads at SR1,050 from vendors in the new plans instead of contacting the officials and obtaining the required “permissions” and bringing the trucks to ease the trouble of follow-up and coordination, which can last for days.

According to sources in the Ministry of Transportation in Al-Ahsa and Al-Ahsa Municipality, they distribute asphalt scrapings to citizens free of charge in line with a specific mechanism. The process requires providing a letter to the branch of Transportation and waiting for a distribution date.