A $A90M rail earthworks contract for Rio Tinto unit Hamersley Iron has plunged Australian construction and mining contractor Macmahon back into crisis, just a month after predicting record profits.
Macmahon began site work late last year on bulk earthworks and bridge construction for the 52km Lang Hancock Railway extension to the Hope Downs 4 iron ore mine in Western Australia's Pilbara region. Since contract award, Macmahon agreed to accelerate works aiming for completion in October 2012.
Chairman Ken Scott-Mackenzie says a review of the HD4 contract is one of the main factors in Macmahon’s revised FY2013 profit guidance to $A20-40M, down from the $67M forecast just a month ago.
The review identified issues with earthworks productivities and the order of works needed to meet the revised program. While project management changes are having a positive impact, Scott-Mackenzie says Macmahon will suffer significant additional costs to meet the client’s schedule.