* Lists so it can expand operations in India, CIS
* Shares open up 4.8 percent vs placing price
* Biggest shareholder is International Mineral Resources
(Adds details about projects and shareholders, updates shares)
LONDON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - South African-based Shaft Sinkers Holdings Plc, which builds infrastructure for underground mines, listed in London on Thursday so it can expand in India and the region surrounding Russia.
Its shares jumped 9.3 percent to 135.5 pence from the placing price of 124 pence, giving it a market value of 64.4 million pounds ($99.33 million).
The group is the top builder of vertical shafts in South Africa, home to some of the deepest mines in the world. It sunk the deepest ever shaft there at 3.1 kilometres.
"The listing will allow us to build on our strengths and expand into new industries and geographies requiring our expertise, particularly the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) and India," said Chief Executive Officer Alon Davidov.
Shaft Sinkers are current working on 14 projects, including for Impala Platinum in South Africa, fertiliser maker EuroChem in Russia, and hydro power developer Teesta Urja Limited in India.
The biggest shareholder of Shaft Sinkers, originally part of miner Anglo American, is private mining group International Mineral Resources, which has a 48 percent stake.
A placing of 24.7 million new shares raised 30.6 million pounds, most of which will be used to buy out minority stakes held by Mmakau Mining and HolGoun Engineering. ($1=.6483 Pound) (Reporting by Eric Onstad; Editing by Hans Peters and Jon Loades-Carter)