When War Reaches Your Contract
Why and how every engineer, project manager, and contractor should revisit within a few days the Force Majeure clause when geopolitical events disrupt projects.
Unfortunately, it is wartime.
This is special edition of the section Project Managament Playbook (you’ll receive tomorrow as usually the Sunday podcast): due to the urgency and the likelihood that this affects around 80% of you reading this, you should take action now, if you haven’t already.
And when war happens, professionals are affected too. Whether you are physically in the conflict zone or working thousands of kilometers away, projects, supply chains, and operations inevitably feel the impact.
In times like these, there is something very practical you should do as a professional:
remove the dust from your contract and read it again. Carefully.
Because this is exactly the moment when one clause becomes extremely relevant: Force Majeure.
Events like war have a massive impact on our work—especially in ongoing projects, construction sites, and plants under operation. Deliveries stop. Personnel cannot travel. Manufacturing schedules slip. Access to sites becomes restricted.
Suddenly, obligations written in the contract become difficult—or impossible—to fulfill.
And this is precisely what Force Majeure provisions are designed for:
events that are outside your control but directly affect the execution of the contract.
Regardless of where you sit in the supply chain—contractor, supplier, engineer, or operator—there is one thing you should keep in mind:
You usually have only a few days to notify the other party.
It started on 28 March. Seven days have already passed. Most contracts allow between 7 and 14 days to submit a formal notification.
Failing to do so can mean losing your contractual rights to time extensions, cost relief, or protection against penalties.
Projects will be delayed. Some contractual obligations will not be fulfilled on time. But when the cause is something extraordinary and beyond your control, the contract already provides a mechanism to deal with it—if you activate it properly.
So here are a few practical notes on how to notify a Force Majeure event under a typical contract.
1. Check the relevant Contract Clause
Let’s put an example of the FIDIC Red Book 2017, Force Majeure is addressed in Clause 19.
Other FIDIC forms—such as the FIDIC Yellow Book—follow similar principles, although clause numbering and wording may vary.
But you have your own contract, so check exactly the clause.
Typically, Force Majeure events include:
War
Hostilities or armed conflict
Rebellion or civil unrest
Other extraordinary events beyond the control of the parties
The key principle is simple: the affected party must notify the other party as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the event.
2. Timing matters more than you think
As I mentioned before, in most cases, the contract requires notification within about 14 days after the event becomes known.
It protects your rights to:
Extension of Time (EOT)
Possible cost recovery related to delays or disruptions
Late notice can jeopardize those rights.
3. The Notice must be Formal and Clear
A Force Majeure notification must always be in writing and should clearly state:
The nature of the event (for example, war or hostilities affecting the project region)
The expected impact on contractual obligations
Immediate mitigation measures being taken
The specific clause of the contract being invoked
A simplified example could read:
Pursuant to Clause X of “Contract”, we hereby notify that the outbreak of hostilities in (location) constitutes a Force Majeure event. This situation is beyond our control and is likely to affect the performance of our contractual obligations. We are taking all reasonable measures to mitigate the impact and will keep the Employer informed of further developments.
4. Document everything
This is not the time for informal communication.
Attach evidence whenever possible:
Government announcements
Logistics disruptions
Official travel restrictions
Communications from suppliers or subcontractors
The more traceability you maintain, the stronger your contractual position becomes.
Verbal communication may work in many situations. But not in this case.
Do not trust anyone, put everything in writing.
5. Keep the communication flowing
Force Majeure notification is not a one-time letter. This is VERY IMPORTANT.
You should:
Maintain a log of communications
Provide regular updates on the situation
Track additional time and costs caused by the disruption
These records may later support claims under the relevant relief provisions of the contract.
6. Do Not ignore the Legal
War situations can quickly involve additional layers:
Government restrictions
Insurance implications
Contract suspension or termination rights
When the stakes are high, it is always advisable to consult legal counsel familiar with contracts.
Be patient but act quickly
War changes many things. But contracts are precisely designed to manage uncertainty.
And in moments like this, the most professional thing you can do is simple:
Open the contract, read the clauses, and act quickly.
Because in project management, timing is everything, even when history intervenes.