Chinese builder scores big in overseas infrastructure

BEIJING: In early May, at the construction site of the Kaphatenga-Benga Road rehabilitation project in Malawi, a prefabricated portal culvert section measuring 3.6 m in length and three m in height was accurately lifted and positioned.

State-owned China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corp, a subsidiary of Beijing-based China Railway Construction Corp Ltd, worked quickly and efficiently to recover time lost due to the rainy season – which typically lasts from February to early May – in the African country.

Along the roadside, 75 precast culverts were neatly aligned, and over 3,000 tonnes of stones were washed and readied. At the excavation site, after spraying water on the road, two road rollers started to firmly compact the subgrade.

Cheng Jun, the project manager at CR20G for the project, said the rainy season in Malawi concluded in early May, with temperatures averaging around 30°C. This provided an ideal opportunity for the company to continue with construction.

Since the commencement of this project, CR20G has completed the construction of ancillary facilities such as aggregate plants and temporary houses for living and working. With adequate preparation, the Chinese company aims to finish reconstruction work on a 30-km stretch of the road by the end of this year.

Since entering the Malawian market in 2018, CR20G has undertaken over 10 construction projects, including roads, sports facilities, buildings and railroads.

It has provided nearly 10,000 job opportunities and trained nearly 1,500 local residents in various fields such as management, logistics and construction. With more than 17,000 employees, the Xi’an-based CR20G has built a market presence in more than 20 countries. — China Daily/ANN