Construction major Murray & Roberts has driven its African expansion further northwards, officially opening its new offices in Kitwe, Zambia, from where the company will support projects in that country and in other key areas of the Central African infrastructure and mineral resources areas.

Murray & Roberts Cementation business development executive Allan Widlake said the opening of the Zambia office was a component of a greater growth strategy that had recently also seen the group establishing a permanent presence in Ghana.

The company would now focus on establishing offices in Mozambique.

While Murray & Roberts had worked on projects throughout the continent for several years, permanent operations in these three countries would allow it to service projects in Central, East and West Africa in a more sustainable manner.

Speaking at the official opening of the Zambia office in early November, CEO Henry Laas said there was “enormous” opportunity for the group in the African mining, infrastructure, construction and energy sectors.

“We’re already gaining substantial traction in these markets. We’re using the innovation, skills and expertise gained in other countries to position ourselves as market leaders on the African continent. We decided on Zambia as our base for Central Africa because it is a safe and friendly country, and it is also one of the fastest economically reforming countries,” he commented.

Also addressing guests at the event, Zambian Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma urged other foreign companies to emulate Murray & Roberts by establishing local offices in Zambia, saying this would boost economic activity and create much-needed employment opportunities for the Zambian people.

“Government is committed to ensuring the development of the country through increased job creation and technology transfer, which will encourage the development of industries,” he said.

Former Murray & Roberts project executive Jan Nefdt had been appointed local director of Murray & Roberts Cementation Zambia, while Zambian mining industry stalwart, Sixtus Mulenga, had been appointed in-country nonexecutive director.

The Kitwe office would house core administration personnel to support projects being run in Zambia by all group entities, providing a support base for all the operating platforms of the Murray & Roberts group.

This team would provide human resources, accounting and logistics services, as well as local induction for expatriates and first-step induction for new employees prior to site induction.

Since becoming active in Zambia in 1992, Murray & Roberts Cementation has worked on several major projects, includ- ing shaft sinking and equipping the synclinorium shaft for Mopani Copper Mines (MCM).

The group also recently secured a contract to sink a man, materials and rock hoisting shaft at MCM’s Mufulira mine.