With the assistance of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Trinidad and Tobago's asphalt has been exported to more countries, helping the countries to seize more global opportunities.
Trinidad and Tobago boasts the world's largest natural deposit of asphalt – the Pitch Lake.
With a coverage of over 40 hectares, the Pitch Lake has a large amount of asphalt which still gushes out of underground every day even after over a century of exploitation.
With large asphaltene, resin, as well as less impurities, the asphalt from the Pitch Lake has strong stability and durability. It has been recognized as one of the best asphalt in the world.
The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, refers to the initiative on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes.
Since many BRI partner countries locate near the equator or in places with hot climate, their high temperature incurs high demand on construction materials.
Because of the BRI, asphalt from the Pitch Lake has been applied in many BRI projects worldwide.
From the 1990s, China has been importing asphalt from Trinidad and Tobago. For now, more than 70 projects were finished with them.
"I think China, from what I've seen, is one of the fastest developing countries in the world in terms of infrastructure, and added to that is the global Belt and Road Initiative. China's Belt and Road Initiative has also given us the opportunity to do business outside of China," said Neil Mohammed, chairman of the board of directors with Lake Asphalt of Trinidad and Tobago Limited.
China’s BRI helps Trinidad and Tobago export asphalt to more countries
