JSE-listed Murray & Roberts’ mining platform has secured two contracts in its Cementation Americas business, valued at R1.2-billion.
The first contract involves underground characterisation development and infrastructure for global miner Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Utah Copper project, in the US, valued at $70-million.
The Cementation US division is well positioned for scope growth on the project, M&R says.
The second contract involves post liner excavation and steel and equipping for the Jansen potash mine shaft, in Saskatchewan, Canada, as part of the project’s Phase 1 development.
This work will be undertaken by the Cementation Canada division, and will comprise a $12-million initial works package, with the potential to apply for more phases of the project.
M&R says mining companies in the Americas have been experiencing prolonged Covid-19 impacts, which have created short-term order book pressures for engineering and contracting companies.
“The contract awards are evidence of new mining investments returning to the region. The forecast improvement in capital investment in the mining industry is encouraging and, considering the mining platform’s growing near-term project pipeline, there is good potential for accelerated growth,” the company states.