Against a backdrop of waning investor appetite in the South African mining industry, Murray & Roberts Cementation has set its sights on realising the potential for growth it has identified in the greater African market.

This focus has led to a formal African growth strategy that has already yielded an expansion in the company’s order book from African operations, which currently constitute about 25% of its turnover.

“With the action in the mining industry moving north and the next orebodies to be exploited located in other African countries, we initiated a study to evaluate the potential in these countries,” Murray & Roberts Cementation MD Chris Sheppard says.

He explains that this involved gaining an understanding of the risk, logistical constraints and potential clients in each country and has resulted in a hub-and- spoke strategy that the company believes will steadily grow its business on the continent.

“In recent times, we have established representative offices in Ghana to serve clients in West Africa and in Zambia as a Central African base, as well as an office in Maputo, Mozambique, in anticipation of significant infrastructure work expected to flow from the coal mining industry in the Tete province,” he says, adding that it is satisfying to see that Murray & Roberts Cementation already has three major projects in Zambia, while the company is actively seeking work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, having secured an in-country partner to identify potential underground mining projects.

“At the same time, we’re targeting prospects in Mauritania.”

Sheppard adds that Murray & Roberts Cementation differentiates itself through its ability to enter into internal joint ventures (JVs) with international sister companies in Murray & Roberts Group, notably in Australia and Canada, to add real value to projects. For example, the company is poised to engage with a project in Mauritania in a JV with Cementation Canada, which, among other resources, has provided the necessary key personnel proficient in French.

“With the downturn in mining in Western Australia, the competition for African projects from Australia has increased, while China is also making its presence felt on the continent. With access to track- less mining expertise from our sister com- pany in Australia, Murray & Roberts Cementation is, however, well able to compete by adding an Australian flavour to our African bids, while our competitive edge against the Chinese lies on the quality side of the equation. Access to our group’s Global Underground Mining Platform provides us with world leading shaft sinking skills out of Canada,” he explains.

He notes that the company is also differentiated by the Murray & Roberts Cementation Training Academy at Bentley Park, near Carletonville. This Mining Qualifications Authority-accredited facility is unique in the contracting space, giving personnel the matchless opportunity to learn best practice mining and shaft sinking skills by working on full-scale mock-ups and simulators. They acquire these skills in a controlled environment free of noise, environmental hostility or the pressure of production targets.

“Ultimately, we are offering clients in the greater African mining industry a full service offering, from cradle to grave,” Sheppard concludes.