Capital project performance

We use proven, practical tools to help capital projects achieve their targets throughout the project lifecycle, from pre-feasibility studies through to ramp-up to design capacity.

Tools for achieving

project targets

Optimising the NPV of capital project portfolios
Value engineering
Reviewing design solutions and evaluating alternative scenarios
Improving construction and installation productivity
Improving engineering and design delivery
Ensuring operational readiness for start-up
Supporting commissioning and ramp-up
Challenges
our clients face
Capital project delays and cost overruns

Persistent schedule delays and budget overruns caused by poor engineering and design quality, inadequate control of contractor progress and the absence of an integrated project management office.

Deteriorating project economics

Lower project NPV as sanctions necessitate redesign around alternative suppliers, extending delivery schedules and increasing the cost of remedial work.

Slow ramp-up to design capacity

Slow progress towards target performance after new facilities start up, owing to inadequate operational readiness and the need to reprioritise capital investment programmes.

Our approach

At each stage of the capital project lifecycle, we focus on the specific levers that increase NPV.

Capital project
inception
Ramp-up
to design capacity
Concept, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies
1
Stress-testing the business case
2
Identifying and managing scenarios
3
Optimising NPV and IRR
4
Risk management
Engineering and procurement
5
Improving engineering efficiency
6
Shortening the critical path
7
Procurement management
8
Optimising the contracting process
Construction and commissioning
9
Managing the transition to construction
10
Improving construction productivity
11
Monitoring construction and installation progress
12
Transitioning to commissioning
Ramp-up to design capacity
13
Operational readiness
14
Commissioning
15
Developing the management structure
16
Ramp-up
/ Case studies

Practical results

that speak for themselves

Identified potential to increase the NPV of an underground non-ferrous metals mine expansion project by 276%
+276%
Identified potential to increase the NPV of an underground non-ferrous metals mine expansion project by 276%
The initiatives developed helped increase the mining project’s NPV by RUB 48 billion
+RUB 48 billion
The initiatives developed helped increase the mining project’s NPV by RUB 48 billion
Delivery times for strategic capital projects cut by 2–3 months by improving the management system of a Russian non-ferrous metals producer's capital projects department
+118%
Delivery times for strategic capital projects cut by 2–3 months by improving the management system of a Russian non-ferrous metals producer's capital projects department
Reducing construction time by 230 days for a processing plant in the CIS
−230 days
Reducing construction time by 230 days for a processing plant in the CIS
Reducing delivery risks on a multibillion steelworks reconstruction project for the CIS’s largest steel producer
+134%
Reducing delivery risks on a multibillion steelworks reconstruction project for the CIS’s largest steel producer
Bringing a new gold processing plant in Russia into operation 51 days sooner
−51 days
Bringing a new gold processing plant in Russia into operation 51 days sooner
Shortening the critical path by 78 days for a polymetallic ore processing plant modernisation programme in Russia
−78 days
Shortening the critical path by 78 days for a polymetallic ore processing plant modernisation programme in Russia
Increasing contractor workforce productivity by 118% on a processing plant expansion project in Russia
+118%
Increasing contractor workforce productivity by 118% on a processing plant expansion project in Russia
Increasing the number of vacancies filled by 20% in 8 weeks in the capital projects department at a remote operation of a major vertically integrated non-ferrous metals producer
20 additional vacancies filled
Increasing the number of vacancies filled by 20% in 8 weeks in the capital projects department at a remote operation of a major vertically integrated non-ferrous metals producer
Flotation circuit construction shortened by 3 months and contractor cost estimates reduced by 30% at a coal preparation plant in Russia
−3 months
Flotation circuit construction shortened by 3 months and contractor cost estimates reduced by 30% at a coal preparation plant in Russia
14% faster progress on the critical path through weekly work planning
+14%
14% faster progress on the critical path through weekly work planning
Processing plant construction time reduced by 90 days through risk assessment and management tools
by 90 days
Processing plant construction time reduced by 90 days through risk assessment and management tools
$200 million increase in the NPV of a metallurgical plant’s capital project portfolio, with a lower investment budget for the same projects
+$200 million
$200 million increase in the NPV of a metallurgical plant’s capital project portfolio, with a lower investment budget for the same projects
270 fewer safety and quality issues on a construction project for a chemicals group
270 issues resolved
270 fewer safety and quality issues on a construction project for a chemicals group
Identifying potential to significantly improve an open-pit mine’s profitability by more than RUB 800 million a year
+RUB 800–900 million per year
Identifying potential to significantly improve an open-pit mine’s profitability by more than RUB 800 million a year
Implementing a construction project management system and shortening a federal highway’s construction schedule by 100 days
−100 days
Implementing a construction project management system and shortening a federal highway’s construction schedule by 100 days
A $100 million increase in NPV for a fertiliser producer’s mining asset development project in Russia
+$100 million
A $100 million increase in NPV for a fertiliser producer’s mining asset development project in Russia
Reducing the unspent capital budget for construction of a mining and processing operation by 36%
-36%
Reducing the unspent capital budget for construction of a mining and processing operation by 36%
Improving the management system and developing measures to shorten construction by 10 months on a processing plant capacity expansion project at a copper-molybdenum mining and processing operation in the CIS
−10 months
Improving the management system and developing measures to shorten construction by 10 months on a processing plant capacity expansion project at a copper-molybdenum mining and processing operation in the CIS
Increasing project NPV by 320% over baseline for an 8-million-tonne throughput expansion at a copper-molybdenum mining and processing operation in the CIS
+320%
Increasing project NPV by 320% over baseline for an 8-million-tonne throughput expansion at a copper-molybdenum mining and processing operation in the CIS
Reduced the delay in submitting documentation for expert review by 30 days on a gold processing plant construction project
by 30 days
Reduced the delay in submitting documentation for expert review by 30 days on a gold processing plant construction project
Increasing project NPV by more than $200 million through optimised mine planning for a major phosphate producer
+$200 million
Increasing project NPV by more than $200 million through optimised mine planning for a major phosphate producer
Cut procurement lead times for construction and installation works by 30 days, with 12 companies registered in advance to bid for a gold processing plant project in Russia
by 30 days
Cut procurement lead times for construction and installation works by 30 days, with 12 companies registered in advance to bid for a gold processing plant project in Russia
Identified potential to increase the NPV of an underground non-ferrous metals mine expansion project by 276%
+276%
Identified potential to increase the NPV of an underground non-ferrous metals mine expansion project by 276%
The initiatives developed helped increase the mining project’s NPV by RUB 48 billion
+RUB 48 billion
The initiatives developed helped increase the mining project’s NPV by RUB 48 billion
Delivery times for strategic capital projects cut by 2–3 months by improving the management system of a Russian non-ferrous metals producer's capital projects department
+118%
Delivery times for strategic capital projects cut by 2–3 months by improving the management system of a Russian non-ferrous metals producer's capital projects department
Reducing construction time by 230 days for a processing plant in the CIS
−230 days
Reducing construction time by 230 days for a processing plant in the CIS
Reducing delivery risks on a multibillion steelworks reconstruction project for the CIS’s largest steel producer
+134%
Reducing delivery risks on a multibillion steelworks reconstruction project for the CIS’s largest steel producer
Bringing a new gold processing plant in Russia into operation 51 days sooner
−51 days
Bringing a new gold processing plant in Russia into operation 51 days sooner
Shortening the critical path by 78 days for a polymetallic ore processing plant modernisation programme in Russia
−78 days
Shortening the critical path by 78 days for a polymetallic ore processing plant modernisation programme in Russia
Increasing contractor workforce productivity by 118% on a processing plant expansion project in Russia
+118%
Increasing contractor workforce productivity by 118% on a processing plant expansion project in Russia
Increasing the number of vacancies filled by 20% in 8 weeks in the capital projects department at a remote operation of a major vertically integrated non-ferrous metals producer
20 additional vacancies filled
Increasing the number of vacancies filled by 20% in 8 weeks in the capital projects department at a remote operation of a major vertically integrated non-ferrous metals producer
Flotation circuit construction shortened by 3 months and contractor cost estimates reduced by 30% at a coal preparation plant in Russia
−3 months
Flotation circuit construction shortened by 3 months and contractor cost estimates reduced by 30% at a coal preparation plant in Russia
14% faster progress on the critical path through weekly work planning
+14%
14% faster progress on the critical path through weekly work planning
Processing plant construction time reduced by 90 days through risk assessment and management tools
by 90 days
Processing plant construction time reduced by 90 days through risk assessment and management tools
$200 million increase in the NPV of a metallurgical plant’s capital project portfolio, with a lower investment budget for the same projects
+$200 million
$200 million increase in the NPV of a metallurgical plant’s capital project portfolio, with a lower investment budget for the same projects
270 fewer safety and quality issues on a construction project for a chemicals group
270 issues resolved
270 fewer safety and quality issues on a construction project for a chemicals group
Identifying potential to significantly improve an open-pit mine’s profitability by more than RUB 800 million a year
+RUB 800–900 million per year
Identifying potential to significantly improve an open-pit mine’s profitability by more than RUB 800 million a year
Implementing a construction project management system and shortening a federal highway’s construction schedule by 100 days
−100 days
Implementing a construction project management system and shortening a federal highway’s construction schedule by 100 days
A $100 million increase in NPV for a fertiliser producer’s mining asset development project in Russia
+$100 million
A $100 million increase in NPV for a fertiliser producer’s mining asset development project in Russia
Reducing the unspent capital budget for construction of a mining and processing operation by 36%
-36%
Reducing the unspent capital budget for construction of a mining and processing operation by 36%
Improving the management system and developing measures to shorten construction by 10 months on a processing plant capacity expansion project at a copper-molybdenum mining and processing operation in the CIS
−10 months
Improving the management system and developing measures to shorten construction by 10 months on a processing plant capacity expansion project at a copper-molybdenum mining and processing operation in the CIS
Increasing project NPV by 320% over baseline for an 8-million-tonne throughput expansion at a copper-molybdenum mining and processing operation in the CIS
+320%
Increasing project NPV by 320% over baseline for an 8-million-tonne throughput expansion at a copper-molybdenum mining and processing operation in the CIS
Reduced the delay in submitting documentation for expert review by 30 days on a gold processing plant construction project
by 30 days
Reduced the delay in submitting documentation for expert review by 30 days on a gold processing plant construction project
Increasing project NPV by more than $200 million through optimised mine planning for a major phosphate producer
+$200 million
Increasing project NPV by more than $200 million through optimised mine planning for a major phosphate producer
Cut procurement lead times for construction and installation works by 30 days, with 12 companies registered in advance to bid for a gold processing plant project in Russia
by 30 days
Cut procurement lead times for construction and installation works by 30 days, with 12 companies registered in advance to bid for a gold processing plant project in Russia
/ Insights

Insights and perspectives

Managing the pace of design documentation delivery: from delays to systematic control
06.11.2025
When designers cannot keep up and construction has to wait, companies face delays and financial losses. We often see this on capital projects. In this article, we explain how to turn a chaotic design process into a manageable system and keep it aligned with construction, without complex IT platforms.
Capital project coordination meetings as an indicator of contractor maturity
07.08.2025
In this insight, we explain why assessing the maturity of a contractor’s construction management system is crucial to minimising the risk of delays in capital project delivery, and offer an approach to assessing it quickly.
Strategic Investment Portfolio Management: An Imperative for Mining and Heavy Industry
16.06.2025
In this insight, we explain how to maximise the returns on capital projects under macroeconomic constraints.
Cost optimisation in road construction: addressing challenges and improving efficiency
04.03.2025
In this article, we examine how road construction companies can optimise costs by introducing systematic solutions and management tools.

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