South African construction and engineering company Murray & Roberts will, in November, add Mozambique to the list of African countries in which it has a permanent presence, after having recently established permanent operations in Ghana and Zambia.

The group’s expansion drive across the continent forms part of its long-term growth strategy, which would see it consolidating its operations to access core global and African growth areas in industries including mining, energy and infrastructure.

The company also planned to make good on its growth intentions by leveraging the skills and expertise found throughout many of its Africa-based operations.

“We see enormous opportunity for the group in the mining and energy sectors across the continent and we are already gaining substantial traction in these markets using the innovation, skills and expertise gained in other countries,” explained CEO Henry Laas.

While the construction major had been involved in projects across the continent for several years, permanent operations in these three countries would allow it to serve countries in Central, East and West Africa more sustainably.

“Our intention is not to dip in and out of projects, but to establish sustainable, long-term operations in these countries that will see Murray & Roberts become a valuable partner in the design, construction and maintenance of large-scale projects,” said Laas, citing the growth of its business in Zambia since its establishment of operations in the country.

The group said it had been granted “a steady stream of high-profile projects” in the region since becoming a permanent corporate resident in Zambia. These  include several shaft-sinking and underground mine infrastructure contracts in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

In addition, since its permanent establishment in Accra, Ghana, in 2012, Murray & Roberts Water has achieved early success by providing two modular plants at Gold Fields’ Ghana-based Tarkwa operations.

Laas emphasised that its Africa-focused strategy did not suggest that the group would dilute its commitment to, and presence in, the South African market.

“We see opportunity for growth in the local market, especially in the oil and gas and energy sectors, and I believe that there will be good opportunity for growth when the infrastructure projects are rolled out,” he commented. 

Murray & Roberts recently announced its intention to acquire the 38.4% shareholding that it did not already own in Australian engineering and construction company Clough to further leverage Clough’s experience in the oil and gas sectors.

Clough had developed more than 20 major energy and resources projects across Australasia in the last year alone.