B&E International reaching new heights in Africa

B&E International supply aggregates for runway reconstruction at Maputo airport in Mozambique

AN in-depth understanding of cross-border work, coupled with their access to a large crushing and screening fleet operated by highly skilled teams, has placed B&E International in a position to become one of the leading aggregates crushing companies in Africa.

One of the company’s latest contracts, secured on the back of these market differentiators, is for Razel Mozambique, a company within the Fayat Group, which is undertaking the contract to rehabilitate the Maputo airport in Mozambique.

Razel-Bec is a major civil engineering firm that designs, funds, produces and operates major public structures at national and international level. The Fayet Group is the largest independent construction group in France with 138 independent subsidiary companies and a geographical presence in 120 countries worldwide.

B&E International’s portion of the six-month contract comprises the production of about 100,000 tons of –26mm G1 basecourse and approximately 160,000 tons of asphalt aggregate. Aggregates for the reconstruction of the airport runway are being produced at the company’s crushing operation, situated at Joacco Quarry in the Mohamba district, and material is being hauled around the clock to Maputo by a sub-contractor.

Razel Mozambique have two large asphalt plants set up at the airport to service this contract. One of these plants is essentially only a back-up plant. Given the tight timeframe for work, this expediency was necessitated due to the fact that all asphalt work takes place at night and the contractor has to ensure continuity of operation.

‘The fact that work can only be undertaken within a small window of opportunity means that there is a requirement for large volumes of asphalt aggregate to be readily available,’ said Chris Weideman, director of operations at B&E International. ‘Fortunately, B&E International are known for achieving very high efficiencies without compromising on the quality of the aggregate being produced, so we can ensure uncompromising continuity of supply from our side.’ 

B&E International are also contracted to crush 400,000 tons of ballast material for Sulbrita Lda in northern Mozambique, over a five-month period. This material is for the construction of the Moatize Nacala railway line, which forms part of the Nacala logistics corridor commissioned by global mining company Vale. B&E International’s high-capacity plant at Namialo Quarry is currently crushing around 4,500 tons/day to service this contract.