MCC looks for sub-Saharan expansion

South African heavy equipment rental company MCC Plant Hire is aiming to establish a permanent footprint in sub-Saharan Africa and has already opened a depot in Mozambique.

The company, which has nationwide coverage in its domestic South African market, is looking to grow its business into neighbouring countries for both civil engineering and mining related work.

"Throughout the years, MCC has had numerous contracts in Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana", said Mr Werner Scheepers, MCC Plant Hire's regional manager for sub-Saharan Africa, "MCC Plant Hire's present goal is to establish permanent branches within neighbouring countries."

MCC has opened a permanent site in Moatize, Mozambique, close to the new Benga Coal mine in Tete where MCC Contracts has recently won the open cast mining job. MCC will mobilise the equipment needed for the mining contract as well as equipment for potential work construction/infrastructure projects in the country.

Once the Mozambique operation is up and running MCC will look at opportunities in other sub-Saharan countries like Botswana, Malawi and Namibia. "South Africa will play a leading role in helping these countries", Mr Scheepers told International Rental News (IRN) magazine, "Funding will be made available, and MCC will be on their doorstep to help."

MCC Plant Hire was founded in 1972 by Mike Barnes and initially focused on big civil engineering projects. In 1988 it moved into mining, and has grown to the point where it now offers extremely large open cast machines - dozers, 720 t face shovels and more - to mining companies in sub-Saharan Africa.

Read the full interview with MCC in the November-December issue of IRN.