GHD has been contracted by BHP Billiton Iron Ore to provide engineering, procurement and construction management  (EPCM) services for non-process infrastructure projects to support their US$7.4 billion capacity expansion in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

 

Work under the five year EPCM Framework Agreement has commenced on study and execution projects including accommodation facilities, mobile equipment and rail workshops, administration buildings, transport infrastructure and utilities.

 

GHD's existing team of 70 people working on these projects is expected to expand to around 200 in the next 12 to 18 months. This workforce will provide engineering design, architecture, project management, health & safety, environmental & heritage, planning, procurement & contracts, project control, risk, quality, construction management and commissioning services.

 

Speaking of the strategy to resource the agreement, GHD CEO Ian Shepherd said, engineering and project management services would be governed from a dedicated project office in Perth. GHD, through its network of more than 6000 people, will provide supplementary assistance to the project office. Construction management services will be delivered on project sites in the Pilbara region.

 

The BHP Billiton Pilbara iron ore expansion will include development of the Jimblebar mine at a cost of US$3.4 billion; further development of Port Hedland Port, including two additional berths and ship loaders, a car dumper, connecting conveyor routes and associated rail works and rolling stock at a total cost of US$2.3 billion; and port blending facilities and rail yards costing US$1.7 billion.