With local partners, the Group has maintained a strong position in the market and continues to win significant projects in spite of strong global competition.

Dubai International Airport
In 2005, the Al Habtoor Murray & Roberts and Takenaka joint venture secured the contract to complete terminal 3, concourse 2 and the car park at the airport. The contract is valued at approximately $1 billion. Murray & Roberts is project leader with a 40% share.

The project is well underway and on track to achieve completion in 2007. Good progress is reported in the wet-trade works and initial finishing trades, while the main finishing trades are due to commence. Most of the material and equipment for the project is sourced internationally and installed by local subcontractors, requiring careful coordination and logistical support. At the end of December 2005, the project reported an injury frequency rate of 0,53, which is below the international standard.

Artist's impression of the Dubai International Airport

The 41 storey apartment block situated in the Jumeirah Lakes resort comprises a floor area of 74 000m˛ and will be 147 metres tall when completed in 2007.

Artist's impression of the Goldcrest Views apartment block

Construction underway at the Goldcrest Views apartment block.

The project is proceeding well with topping out of the 51 storey concrete twin towers due in February 2006 and a further 16 storeys of structural steel to be added to the spires in April. Three wind turbines between the towers will be “strand-jacked” into position in May and the turbines will be erected in June.

Cladding is well underway and interior design and lighting are currently being finalised in Hong Kong and Glasgow, respectively. The towers and mall will be available for third party fit-out contractors in June. Phased public access has already commenced, with access granted to parking areas.

Situated south of the Island of Bahrain, the project is a major resort comprising islands that have been developed as reclaimed land and designed in fantasy shapes.

The bridges require the manufacture of precast post-tensioned deck elements, each 16,2 metres long and 200 tons in weight. The deck units will be transported to the bridge sites on multi-axled trailers and placed using a large crawler crane. A feature of the deck design is the use of an impressed current cathodic system to protect the reinforcing from an aggressive marine environment. The substructure comprises two 1 200 milimetre diameter bored steel-cased concrete piles per span which are extended to form pier heads.

The Nass Murray & Roberts joint venture successfully completed the $65 million Hidd Port quay wall in Bahrain in 2004.

Artist's impression of the Durrat Al Bahrain project.

Site establishment and mining operations commenced in 2004. Project completion is scheduled for January 2012.

At Impala No 20 Shaft, where Murray & Roberts Cementation is sinking and equipping a main downcast shaft, an upcast ventilation shaft, service infrastructure on surface and all ancillary excavations and access development necessary to establish the footprint for 185 ktpm of Merensky and UG2 reef production, completion remains on schedule for October 2008.

Murray & Roberts Cementation has been involved with the Kroondal Platinum Mine (KPM) since inception (1999) and undertakes all its underground mining operations, ensuring that basic mining principles are applied correctly.

Work is progressing well on the cluster decline development at Turffontein where Murray & Roberts Cementation’s project includes a cluster of decline sinking and auxilliary development on the levels.
Work on the Turffontein contract started in 2002 and is expected to be completed early in 2007 after which Phase 3 is likely to commence. This will take the cluster declines from 35 Level down to 40 Level.

Murray & Roberts Cementation is undertaking a shaft and underground development project at Dwarsrivier. The mine is converting from an open pit to an underground operation and the project comprises three declines and some development work over a fixed term of about two years. This is the company’s first contract in the chrome mining sector and it is currently ahead of its contractual obligations for Phase I.