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Constructon and engineering group Murray & Roberts says its global contract-mining operations are poised to benefit from the mineral-commodities boom, which the company expects will persist for “at least the next five to seven years”. Writing in the group’s annual report for 2006, CE Brian Bruce reports that Murray & Robert’s mine-construction and development operations in the Southern African Development Community region, Canada and Australia are well positioned to benefit from growth opportunities in the domestic and global mineral-commodities markets.“Global growth, particularly in and from the eastern hemisphere, continues to place heavy demand into the natural-resources sector.“Indications are that this will continue for at least the next five to seven years before reaching a new level of sustainable demand.“This bodes well for further development of a global resources focus in the group,” says Bruce.Meanwhile, demand for metals and minerals continues to exceed installed delivery capacity and resource prices have risen to record highs.“Capital expenditure by mining houses in our largest market – South Africa – has firmed appreciably, but still without the expected growth,” states Bruce.South Africa remains the group’s primary mining contracting market.It experienced increased activity in both the base-metals and precious-metals markets during the year under review.Platinum continued to offer the best opportunity, as the world’s two largest South Africa-based producers of the precious metal – Anglo Platinum and Impala Platinum – invested in expansion and replacement projects to meet global demand.There was also increased activity in the gold-mining sector, largely as a result of the stronger gold price and “an element of acclimatisation to a stronger rand environment”.In Africa, Murray & Roberts Cementation targets established mining markets with multiple project opportunities, including Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana, where demand for diamonds is generating renewed activity.Mine development, which contributes 45% of the group’s revenue in South Africa, continued on the Impala Platinum No 20 shaft, Lonmin’s Karee 4 twin shaft and the Anglo Platinum Turffontein decline shaft project, in the Rustenburg area.A new R600-million contract was also secured on the Paardekraal double shaft project for Anglo Platinum and a development contract was secured for the Barplats platinum mine, near Brits.The Kroondal platinum mine continues to be the mainstay of activity in contract mining, accounting for almost 40% of South African revenue.The remainder of business in South Africa is focused on small specialised projects, which include exploration drilling, raise drilling and cementation work.The development of a fourth shaft at Kroondal is currently under adjudication.According to the annual report, Murray & Roberts Cementation is also the preferred contractor to build and contract for the new Blueridge mine, near Groblersdal.Bruce also reports that RUC Mining Contrac-tors, in Australia, reaped the benefits of ongoing buoyancy in the highly-mechanised Australian underground-mining sector, reporting revenues of R146,5-million, compared to R115,2-million in 2005, and operating profits of R20,1-million, up from R11,7-million.Cementation Canada exceeded key financial targets in an active market, delivering revenues of R657,3-million, compared with R547,1-million in 2005, and operating profits of R43,9-million (2005: R24,7-million), at an operating profit margin of 6,7%.
Discover the new chair lift constructions and developments to the ski area that are mainly to be carried out this summer. Although the main works will be carried out in Arc 2000 this year, there will also be large improvements made to ensure good quality snow for you all winter long, thanks to the artificial snow network. Arc 2000 building of "lArcabulle" a 6-seater chair lift : departure point situated above the current departure point of the Plagnettes chair lift and arrival point at the top of the Bosses drag lift.demolishing of the Bosses drag lifta reduction in the length of the bottom part of the Plagnettes chair lift, with the departure station being located higher than the current departure point of the Plagnettes.(see photo below)the construction of an information-safety chalet at the top of the Transarc gondola, with toilets inside.Aiguille Rouge : improvement of the panoramique ciruit on the summit and at the start of the Arandelires red run.
Only one of the three South African firms registered for the purpose is attending the 4th edition of the civil construction, public works, telecommunications and security fair, that started Wednesday in Luanda. The South African Firm "Bee Fencing", specialised in civil construction, deals mainly in the construction of fences for residences and enterprises with South Africa-made galvanised iron. According to the firm's general director, Daniel Marais, "Bee Fencing" has been operating since 2000 in South Africa and also sells fruits and vegetables. With 10 workers, the company is seizing the opportunity to publicise its services and set up partnership with other participants, mainly in the civil construction field. .
(AGI) - Rome, 23 Oct - 2006 "has been another successful year", the eight consecutive year for the construction sector, and the forecast for the coming year is positive, with an increase in investment of 0.9pct, stated the president of Ance Paolo Buzzetti presenting the Joint Observatory for the Construction Industry. "2006 - he stated - has been another positive year, the eight consecutive year for our sector. Investment in construction has gone up by 1.1pct (a better result that that in 2005 that was at 0.5pct), reaching 144 billion euro. 2007, according to our forecast - Buzzetti continued - will also be a year of growth, with an increase in investment in construction of 0.9pct. It can be said therefore that the sector is continuing to grow, even if the rate of development in the last four years is lower that that recorded in the years between 2000 and 2002.
Slovenian, Italian, French, Hungarian and Ukrainian transport ministers have signed a memorandum of understanding with European Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot regarding the construction of the fifth pan-European transport corridor that connects the French city of Lyon with the Ukrainian border.
Slovenian Transport Minister Janez Bozic told STA that the document, signed on Monday, 16 October, defines further activities along the 1,600-kilometres long route, a part of which runs through Slovenia.
The memorandum, signed in the Italian city of Udine, also coordinates the approaches to the project, which has been dubbed project No 6 and is scheduled for completion around 2015.
The meeting took part as part of a ministerial conference entitled "Pan European Transport Corridor; a Strategic Tool for a Connected Europe".
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