Abstract: An apparatus for supplying molten bituminous material to an elevated level in which the molten bituminous material is pumped by a pump through a valve and up an upstanding supply pipe to the elevated level the supply pipe is in communication through two ports of the valve with the interior of the vat for free draining under gravity of the body of bituminous material from the supply pipe back to the vat when the supply of molten bituminous material to the elevated level is discontinued. While the supply of molten bituminous material to the elevated level is discontinued the bituminous material is pumped through two further ports of the valve for recycling back into the vat, preferably at an end of the vat remote from the pump inlet in order to ensure substantially complete circulation of the molten bituminous material within the vat.