March 02, 2026 • 4 min read
Worley China: Powering global project delivery
In the recent past, the mining sector has witnessed a clear shift: miners are increasingly turning to Chinese companies not only for financing, but as engineering and construction partners. These partnerships range from high-grade iron ore projects, where Chinese firms deliver infrastructure, fixed and mobile plant, and advanced construction. Meanwhile, other miners are expanding collaboration on green steel and decarbonization initiatives, exploring supply-chain decarbonization and low-carbon iron production.
Miners are increasingly turning to Chinese companies not only for financing, but as engineering and construction partners.
Against this backdrop, Worley China plays a critical role within this evolving delivery model, leveraging decades of local experience to execute complex engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM), as well as EPC and EPF projects aligned to global standards. By engaging early in project definition alongside Worley’s global offices, the team helps customers define the right scope from the outset, improving cost certainty and enabling more confident investment decisions before major capital is locked in.
Driving global mining and industrial projects through delivery excellence
“Since 1999, Worley China has played a pivotal role in Worley’s global operations, providing end‑to‑end project delivery services,” says Karl Qiu, Managing Director – China.
With 38 years of industrial experience, Karl and his team have built a reputation for excellence, with a robust and extensive ecosystem, delivering complex projects across the country and around the world.
“From day one, our delivery model has focused on supporting foreign direct investment and international customers and projects. We have managed comprehensive, full‑scale projects from the outset, extending well beyond traditional design or drafting scope. This involved not only engineering and design, but also the complete management of procurement, logistics and the entire supply chain from initial planning through to project completion,” highlights Karl.
Worley China actively manages project risk through robust supplier oversight and strict QA/QC processes, ensuring materials, equipment, and services consistently meet global standards while keeping projects on schedule and on budget.
Through integrated engineering, procurement and digital delivery workflows, the team helps streamline execution, reduce rework and drive stronger schedule and cost certainty – ultimately lowering total installed cost for customers operating in increasingly competitive markets.
Integrated engineering, procurement and digital delivery strengthen schedule certainty and lower total installed cost.
Nationwide presence and regional expertise
Worley China operates five offices, representing unmatched geographic coverage:
- Beijing and Tianjin serve as the hubs for energy, mining, minerals and metals (including battery materials), managing large‑scale EPCM and selective EPC projects for Chinese state-owned companies.
- Shanghai handles international engineering and procurement with a focus on chemicals for international customers.
- Nanjing specializes in small and medium sized chemical EPCM projects and small-cap management of change (MOC) projects.
- Chengdu functions as a global engineering hub supporting projects to US and European standards, ensuring international compliance for complex initiatives.
Class A licensing, compliance and procurement
Operating successfully in China’s engineering and construction sector requires the highest level of regulatory approval. Worley China possesses a Class A engineering license, which authorizes the company to deliver large and complex projects across chemical, petrochemical, and industrial building sectors. This top‑tier license also allows the team to adapt project delivery to international codes and standards when required, ensuring flexibility and compliance in both domestic and global contexts.
A Class A engineering license enables Worley China to deliver large, complex projects to international codes and standards.
“Procurement is a fundamental pillar of our service. Our Shanghai team manages everything – from comprehensive procurement solutions, sourcing and purchasing to inspection, logistics, and on‑site material control,” explains Karl. Recently, the team successfully delivered two modular fabrication projects for American‑based customers—one project executed directly under Worley’s contract, and another overseen by the team – ensuring seamless delivery, consistent quality and effective cost control throughout the procurement lifecycle.
Building partnerships and an ecosystem
Collaboration is at the heart of Worley China’s success. Over 26 years, the team has built strong partnerships with leading Chinese engineering and construction firms in the mining and metals sectors, as well as major players in the oil & gas and chemicals industries.
“We work closely with our partners, developing capabilities and growing together, which strengthens our robust ecosystem,” Karl says.
These long-standing partnerships support predictable, repeatable project outcomes by strengthening schedule reliability, optimizing cost structures and ensuring consistent quality – key factors in achieving capital-efficient delivery across regions.
Integrated delivery driving capital efficiency
As Chinese technology and engineering firms expand their global footprint, they’re bringing advanced solutions by combining innovation with proven EPCM capabilities to global mining.
“For mining companies, partnering with these firms can materially reduce project risk, translating into more predictable outcomes and stronger capital efficiency,” said Karl.
“Integrating advanced technology with full-scale project delivery allows operators to lower both cost and schedule risk, an important advantage as complexity and capital pressure intensify.”
To demonstrate the impact of this integrated approach, Worley China recently supported a joint venture project in North Africa facing capital cost pressure due to changing market conditions. Worley China was engaged to leverage its full capability to introduce globally sourced solutions for capital equipment and, in selected areas, full EPC solutions.
Through disciplined procurement, close collaboration with Chinese EPC contractors and alignment to international standards, the team delivered more than 30 percent cost savings across targeted equipment packages and facilities.
The team delivered more than 30 percent cost savings across targeted equipment packages and facilities.
The approach represented a first-of-its-kind delivery model in that country, demonstrating how ecosystem leverage and international standards can materially reshape project economics.
China’s strategic role in global clean energy
China is the world’s second-largest economy and produces more than half of global solar, wind, energy storage, battery materials, and hydrogen capacity. “As the largest international EPCM firm in China, we help customers access this ecosystem – technology, local supply chains and EPC services – to deliver projects worldwide,” Karl highlights.
Worley China helps customers access China’s technology, supply chains and EPC services to deliver projects worldwide.
Worley China continues to strengthen Worley’s global footprint. From managing complex projects and modular fabrication to supporting international standards compliance, Karl and his team provide customers with a reliable, capable and globally connected partner for industrial projects.
