African Review - Construction

Construction

Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway financing

Work is well underway on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway (Image source: Hitech Construction)

As Nigeria’s Hitech Construction Company Limited nears completion on the first segment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the project has secured a landmark financing package involving commercial and other lenders that bodes well for future infrastructure developments

Deutsche Bank led a US$747mn syndicated loan to fund the first section of the project, which covers a 47-km stretch from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos.

A statement by Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance said it marks the largest syndicated loan ever arranged for a roads project in the country and reflects a “strong signal of global investor confidence” in the nation’s reform trajectory and infrastructure pipeline.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a flagship project under Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Agenda.

“This deal reflects the success of our macroeconomic reforms and the return of international capital to support Nigeria’s development,” said Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

“We are focused on financing infrastructure in ways that are sustainable, transparent and catalytic — and this transaction is a model of that vision.”

Deutsche Bank acted as the transaction’s global coordinator, lead arranger and bookrunner and participated in the syndicate, alongside other regional and international lenders.

The syndicate includes support from development finance institutions, export credit agencies and international commercial banks, such as First Abu Dhabi Bank, the African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim), the Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX), ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, Nexent Bank N.V. (formerly known as Credit Europe Bank N.V.) and Zenith Bank (through its UK, Paris and Nigeria offices).

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), a part of the Islamic Development Bank Group, provided partial political and commercial risk insurance.

The project is structured as an EPC+F (Engineering, Procurement, Construction + Financing) contract awarded to Hitech Construction, one of Nigeria’s leading infrastructure firms.

The highway, which is being built using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP), also reflects a commitment to longer-term resilience and efficiency, engineered for a minimum lifespan of 50 years with minimal maintenance.

Construction of Phase 1 Section 1 is already over 70% complete, said Dany Abboud, Hitech Construction’s managing director.

“We are proud to deliver this historic project,” he said. “We are showing that Nigerian engineering — backed by structured international finance— can meet global standards. The use of CRCP technology ensures unmatched durability and cost-efficiency.”

The highway will serve as a vital trade and logistics corridor for Nigeria, enhancing regional integration, tourism, reducing transport costs and creating jobs.

A tolling strategy is currently being finalised to ensure the project’s operational and financial sustainability, while additional funding for subsequent phases is now being structured, reportedly with strong interest from regional and international investors, according to the Ministry of Finance.

“This transaction is a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s economic reform agenda,” said David Umahi, Nigeria’s Minister of Works.

“The Lagos-Calabar Highway is a strategic national asset, and this financing sets a strong precedent for future public-private infrastructure partnerships.”

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XCMG Machinery invests in Africa talent pool

XCMG_Machinery_Africa_engineers_technicians_training

Investing in a new generation

China’s XCMG Machinery has trained a new pool of African engineers and technicians for its international service and support network under a newly-launched scheme

The heavy machinery manufacturer, headquartered in Xuzhou, announced this week that all 120 trainees from XCMG Technician College’s prestigious ‘Blue Sea Elite’ Young Technicians Training Programme in 2025 had secured positions within the group's international service network well ahead of graduation.

All graduates have now assumed roles, such as service managers and engineers, across West Africa and in South Africa, as well as other regions, to become core members of XCMG's global service team.

The company has extended its training model to Africa after the success of other localised schemes in key markets such as Brazil and Indonesia, where it has already nurtured over 3,000 international technicians to date.

“This outstanding achievement — a 100% employment rate into international service positions — underscores XCMG's over 30 years of commitment to cultivating high-calibre technical talent,” the company said in a statement.

“It highlights the success of deeply integrating industry with education and innovating international training models.”

Africa has emerged as a buoyant market for XCMG Machinery so far in 2025, with the company supplying a range of equipment to flagship projects such as Guinea’s Simandou iron ore mine.

This includes a shipment of 90-ton, 135-ton, and 400-ton mining excavators, as well as 130-ton mining trucks.

Its ‘Blue Sea Elite’ programme, launched in 2021 through a partnership between XCMG Technician College, the Erfurt Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), and the Erfurt Educational Centre in Germany, blends the German dual-system vocational education with Chinese vocational strengths.

“This fusion creates a highly efficient pathway specifically tailored to meet global industry demands,” the XCMG statement noted.

The programme significantly enhances the international capabilities of instructors, fostering a collaborative, five-dimensional teaching system integrating work and study, it added.

Over 20% of specialsed faculty are now bilingual or possess international experience, providing critical support for developing globally competent technicians.

Graduates emerge from the scheme as overseas service elites equipped with international perspectives, exceptional technical skills and cross-cultural competence, the XCMG statement added.

The company, which now ranks among the world's top construction machinery brands, said it is actively promoting further international adoption of Chinese technical skills and standards.

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Caterpillar's new heavy-duty 980 GC wheel loader

Cat's heavy-duty 980 GC Wheel loader (Image source: Caterpillar)

Caterpillar has unveiled its new heavy-duty Cat 980 GC Wheel Loader

Easy to own and simple to operate, the new wheel loader provides an economical solution for a broad range of applications, said Frank Stadelmann, global product application specialist at Caterpillar.

“We’ve built the new 980 GC on a long legacy of high performance and highly reliable wheel loaders with proven components and integrated Cat machine systems,” he said.

“The loader’s simple user interface, intuitive controls and excellent visibility make for comfortable and efficient operation, even with less experienced operators.”

The 980 GC wheel loader offers low fuel consumption with an on-demand fan, load-sensing hydraulics, intuitive controls and Performance Series buckets.

“New features to this model, like our Engine Idle Management System (EIMS), minimise idle RPM and fuel consumption to help deliver low owning and operating costs,” said Stadelmann.

Adding to the full line of medium wheel loader choices, the new 980 GC is powered by the Cat C13 engine. The engine’s Cat Clean Emissions Module works in the background without impacting production.

The EIMS, Auto Engine Idle Shutdown, variable speed fan and load sensing hydraulics all combine to offer low fuel consumption and sound levels on the machine.

Its field-proven automatic planetary powershift transmission also delivers high reliability and long service life. Four forward/reverse speeds reach a maximum 39.8 km/h (24.7 mph) speed to quickly move about the site, and the well-known Electronic Clutch Pressure Control (ECPC) shifting system provides smooth, efficient gear changes in all operating conditions.

Available ride control improves operating smoothness over rough terrain while ensuring excellent material retention and increasing efficiency, and the optional limited slip differential axle increases traction in poor underfoot conditions.

The new loader also features convenient service points, one-piece tilting hood with swing-out radiator, and sight gauges for quick and efficient daily maintenance. Hard-to-reach pins have remote, conveniently grouped grease fittings for easy preventative lubrication. An optional Cat Autolube System boasts simple, one-button control and includes fault flash function to alert the operator to issues.

The new 980 GC is built on a legacy of high performance and highly reliable wheel loaders with machine components designed and manufactured to high quality standards. Caterpillar first entered the wheel loader market back in 1959.

The latest machine is also backed by the Cat dealer network to help maximise uptime by providing global parts support and trained technicians.

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Zoomlion powering North Africa’s infrastructure growth

Powering North African infrastructure growth (Image source: Zoomlion)

China’s Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. has highlighted a series of recent global orders it has completed, including several in Africa

Notably, the company is active in helping to upgrade North Africa’s infrastructure sector.

Zoomlion's heavy-duty crawler cranes are designed for large-scale infrastructure and energy projects, it noted in a statement.

“Zoomlion's ZCC32000 crawler crane is supporting Egypt's first nuclear power plant, El Dabaa, by lifting and installing major equipment,” the statement read.

“With a 2,000-ton capacity and a boom height of 168 metres, it delivers strong and precise performance to keep the project on track.”

Separately, the company is helping Morocco to prepare for the FIFA World Cup in 2030, which entails a massive infrastructure upgrade.

“In Morocco, the 800-ton ZCC9800W is handling key lifts at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium for the 2030 World Cup, delivering efficient and stable performance.”

The company also reported deliveries of machinery, ranging from cranes, aerial work platforms, mining equipment, to foundation construction machinery, in support of major infrastructure, energy, and urban development projects in Indonesia Australia, Turkey and the Middle East.

“Zoomlion is building on recent momentum to strengthen its local presence and global collaboration, delivering smarter, more adaptable solutions worldwide,” the statement added.

In an earlier statement, released on 2 July, the company outlined more of its work in Morocco with the ZCC9800W undertaking critical hoisting operations at the stadium site in Rabat, one of the country's key tournament venues.

Designed for large-scale infrastructure and energy projects, the ZCC9800W is delivering high-precision lifts of steel components weighing hundreds of tons.

Following the completion of hoisting operations at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the ZCC9800W will be transferred to the construction site of Grand Stade Hassan II Stadium, in Benslimane, Morocco, which is projected to be the largest football stadium in the world.

“The crane's performance in Morocco marks a key milestone in Zoomlion's continued advancement in the high-tonnage crane segment,” the statement noted.

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Are smart buildings entering a new digital era?

It is expected to launch in the second half of 2025. (Image source: Siemens)

Siemens Smart Infrastructure has partnered with Microsoft to enhance access to building IoT data through greater interoperability between Siemens’ digital building platform, Building X, and Microsoft’s Azure IoT Operations, powered by Azure Arc

This collaboration aims to simplify how organisations connect, manage, and analyse data from various building systems such as HVAC, valves, and actuators, enabling faster onboarding and improved operational insights.

By combining Building X with Microsoft’s adaptive cloud framework, large enterprises across sectors like commercial real estate, data centres, and education can now tap into real-time data such as temperature, pressure, and indoor air quality directly in the cloud.

This paves the way for in-house applications like energy monitoring and space utilisation, supporting more efficient and sustainable building management.

Advancing digitalisation

The integration is built on open standards like the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web of Things (WoT) and the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA), ensuring interoperability and flexibility beyond proprietary ecosystems. Customers benefit from a simplified, vendor-neutral IoT architecture, reinforcing a shared commitment to openness, accessibility, and data security.

Expected to launch in the second half of 2025, the solution is one of the first to offer cross-provider IoT data integration based purely on open standards. It is part of Siemens Xcelerator, Siemens’ open digital platform designed to accelerate digital transformation in the built environment.

“This collaboration with Microsoft reflects our shared vision of enabling customers to harness the full potential of IoT through open standards and interoperability,” said Susanne Seitz, CEO, Siemens Smart Infrastructure Buildings. “The improved data access will provide portfolio managers with granular visibility into critical metrics such as energy efficiency and consumption. With IoT data often being siloed, this level of transparency is a game-changer for an industry seeking to optimise building operations and meet sustainability targets.”

“Siemens shares Microsoft’s focus on interoperability and open IoT standards. This collaboration is a significant step forward in making IoT data more actionable,” said Erich Barnstedt, senior director & architect, Corporate Standards Group, Microsoft. “Microsoft’s strategy underscores our commitment to partnering with industry leaders to empower customers with greater choice and control over their IoT solutions.”

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