Eritrea seeks to bolster water security. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Eritrea has announced the construction of a new dam in the Molqui sub-zone area that it hopes will build on efforts to strengthen the country’s water supplies

“A new dam is under construction in the Aitaber administrative area of the Molqui sub-zone,” a statement by the Ministry of Information noted.

“The dam is expected to ensure a reliable water supply for both humans and livestock, as well as support the development of irrigation farming.”

It added that the dam’s construction is being carried out in collaboration with local residents and members of the defence forces, naming Solomon Gebremeskel as coordinator of the project.

Work on the new dam project is around 80% complete it noted, citing Tesfamicael Gebru, administrator of the sub-zone, who indicated that the dam project is part of broader efforts to construct water reservoirs at the national level.

Earlier in April, the Ministry highlighted some of the challenges in terms of securing water supplies and ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure.

Situated within the Sahelian Belt, Eritrea is characterised by arid and semi-arid conditions and has endured recurrent, often severe, droughts for decades.

The country’s surface water is distributed across five major river basin systems: Setit, Mereb-Gash, Red Sea Basin, Barka-Ansebas and Danakil Ba.

“Although limited in volume, groundwater remains Eritrea’s most reliable source of freshwater,” the Ministry said in a statement on 17 April.

However, it added that rivers, lakes and aquifers across the country are increasingly under pressure due to overexploitation, deforestation, minimal recharge practices and the growing impact of climate change.

In response, the Ministry of Land, Water, and Environment introduced a comprehensive legal and policy framework to guide the sustainable management of water resources.

Eritrea’s access to clean and safe water has improved significantly in recent years, from just 13 per cent in 1991 to around 85 per cent today, through targeted investments in infrastructure, supportive policies and broad-based development efforts.

The number of dams and ponds has grown from 138 at independence in 1993 to nearly 800, further enhancing national water storage and distribution capacity.

“In 2023 alone, 16 micro-dams were completed, and were slated for completion in the last year," the Ministry of Information noted. “Furthermore, 17 micro-dams have been scheduled to be launched across 2024/25, underscoring the country’s sustained commitment to expanding access and building resilience."

It added that partnerships and cooperation with international development organisations also play a key role in Eritrea’s efforts, providing technical expertise, funding support and capacity-building.

“Through these collaborations, Eritrea is enhancing its ability to implement sustainable water projects and scale innovative solutions nationwide.”

Raubex Building selects Potain MCT 185 tower crane for key housing project, backed by strong local equipment support. (Image source: Manitowoc)

Raubex Building, a prominent construction firm in South Africa, has added a new Potain MCT 185 topless tower crane to its fleet for use on a major housing project currently underway

The project is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

The crane, set up with a full 65 m jib and standing 36 m tall, will remain on-site for around 13 months. With a maximum lifting capacity of 8 t and the ability to hoist 1.5 t at the jib tip, the MCT 185 combines robust performance with a compact, lightweight design that allows for rapid and straightforward assembly.

According to Hugo van Zyl, plant manager at Raubex Building, the crane's efficient performance and the strong support from local Potain distributor Crane and Hoist Equipment made it the ideal fit for the project.

“We wanted a cost-effective, reliable, and productive crane, so opted for the Potain MCT 185. But it’s the aftersales service that truly sets this crane apart. We've worked with Crane and Hoist Equipment on previous projects, and the company’s commitment to reliable support has always exceeded our expectations. Knowing we can count on the expertise and responsiveness of Crane and Hoist Equipment gives us confidence that this crane will keep performing at its best long into the future, helping us meet deadlines while maintaining high construction standards,” concluded van Zyl.

Manitowoc launches 64-tonne Potain MR 819 luffer crane. (Image source: Manitowoc)

Manitowoc has used bauma 2025 as the platform to introduce the Potain MR 819, the company’s largest luffing jib tower crane designed specifically for the European and North American markets

With a maximum capacity of 64 tonnes and up to 70 metres of jib, the MR 819 significantly surpasses its predecessors—the MR 608B and MR 618—which offer a 32-tonne capacity.

The development of this high-capacity crane was heavily influenced by Manitowoc’s Voice of the Customer (VOC) program, which identified a growing need for larger luffing jib cranes to handle substantial precast components and support critical infrastructure developments like bridge and nuclear facility construction.

“We developed the Potain MR 819 to support our large rental and high-profile contractor customers,” said Thibaut Le Besnerais, vice president of marketing and development for tower cranes at Manitowoc. “To develop the new crane, we drew heavily on the design of our latest luffer, the MR 309. This allowed us to engineer a crane with optimally sized components that offer the easiest transport and assembly.”

Power. precision. performance.

Among the crane’s standout features is its compact out-of-service radius, which ranges from 18 metres to as little as 16 metres depending on jib configuration. This makes it ideal for high-density urban construction sites. It also utilises a dozen 5-metre sections of Manitowoc’s new 2.45-metre K 880 mast system, enabling freestanding heights of up to 65.6 metres with 50-metre jib setups. Anchored configurations can reach 210 metres with a 65-metre jib using just five anchoring frames under C25 wind conditions.

In terms of performance, the MR 819 boasts impressive lifting capabilities. With three-fall reeving and a 55-metre jib, it can lift its full 64-tonne capacity at a 17-metre radius and 10.8 tonnes at the jib tip. When set to two-fall reeving with a 65-metre jib, the crane handles 42 tonnes out to 21 metres and 7.4 tonnes at its maximum radius.

To manage these substantial loads, Manitowoc developed the 270 LVF 213 Optima hoisting winch. This unit features a 200 kW motor and 838 metres of rope, offering variable line speeds from 183 metres per minute in single-fall mode to 61 metres per minute with three-fall reeving. For luffing, the 110 kW-rated 150 VVF 90 hoist allows the jib to be raised from 15° to 87° in just 2 minutes and 20 seconds. The crane also incorporates Potain Power Control to optimise energy consumption during less time-sensitive operations.

Operators will benefit from Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS), which enables seamless calibration and fine-tuned controls. The spacious Ultra View cab enhances operator comfort and performance, while the integrated POTAIN Connect telematics platform provides detailed data to support fleet management, maintenance planning, and troubleshooting.

Also read: Manitowoc to showcase advanced aftermarket services at bauma

Metso showcases energy-efficient HRC 8 crusher at BAUMA 2025, promoting circular economy in global construction industry. (Image source: Metso)

As the BAUMA 2025 trade fair gets underway in Munich, Germany, Metso showcases its HRC 8 high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) crusher—highlighting the company’s commitment to helping the construction industry embrace a circular economy.

Engineered for sustainable aggregate production, the HRC 8 delivers low energy use, reduced wear part consumption, and efficient processing of recycled materials, making it ideal for producers and contractors aiming to boost environmental performance and profitability.

The construction industry is increasingly adopting a circular economy approach on a global scale, prioritising energy efficiency, alternative fuels, and sustainable raw materials. The production of industrial sand and the separation of usable construction materials for cement and concrete production present significant business opportunities while addressing the rising demand for sustainable practices. The Metso HRC 8 high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) crusher not only supports sustainable operations, but it also offers process flexibility and higher capacity and low energy and wear part consumption, making it an attractive option for aggregate producers and contractors.

With declining sand extraction sites in Europe and reduced permitting for new ones, the supply situation is challenging, and transporting sand from distant locations is often not economically viable. The cement industry creates 8% of global CO2 emissions. The target is to reduce these emissions by 25–55% by 2030 and achieve zero-emission cement production by 2050. Currently, up to 20–30% of recycled materials are used in cement and concrete production.

“The construction industry is moving towards circular economy, and urbanization is expected to drive demand for raw materials to meet the growing global needs. Metso's HRC 8 offers a proven solution for aggregate producers and contractors, delivering high quality output with excellent gradation and particle shape. It fully meets the specifications for recycled concrete and cement applications. With over 160 units currently sold worldwide, the HRC 8 has received consistently positive feedback from customers, supporting sustainable and efficient production,” commented Oldemar Meneses, product manager impactors and sand solutions, Aggregates at Metso.

Metso HRC 8 crusher for Aggregates

Metso HRC 8 for Aggregates is available as a stationary crusher or as a part of Nordplant's pre-designed crushing modules and plants. As a portable model on Nordwheeler, the crusher provides flexibility for relocation based on material location. Due to its energy efficiency, it is included in the Metso Plus offering.

The HRC 8 crusher generates very low dust emissions and noise levels, saves up to 50% energy compared to other technologies, and can convert quarry waste and demolition waste (upcycle Construction and Demolition Waste CDW) into high-quality, high-value sellable products. It can release recycled cement from CDW, produce high-quality manufactured sand, and improve poor-quality sand, thereby avoiding the use of virgin resources and upcycling quarry waste materials.