Aker Kvaerner has been fully committed to the health, safety and the environment (HSE) of the local community in Angola since the company entered this region in 1998.  Money has been raised, in partnership with oilfield operator Total, through a bonus scheme linked to the positive HSE results achieved on the deepwater Dalia project off the west coast of Africa.

"As a large company we are a significant part of the societies in which we operate and, as such, we believe in playing our part in the community," says Raymond Carlsen, executive vice president, Aker Kvaerner Subsea. "We support and run many initiatives that aim to improve social conditions by involving and educating local people. This is a philosophy that pervades all parts of our global operations."

The local community will see immediate improvements in the supply of safe water as the rig can provide Cabinda with ten wells for the current costs of drilling one well. The size of the drilling rig and its ability to drill shallow wells (50 - 100 metres) in a cost efficient manner makes it one of a kind in this region.

"Four bore-holes have been drilled since the rig's start-up in September," continues Carlsen. "The local community has been trained to operate the machinery and can now drill the wells independently."

The Norwegian non-governmental organisation (NGO) Yme, specialised in the sector of water and sanitation, shelter and agriculture, is handling the operation of the donated drill rig. Yme is a humanitarian organisation that implements emergency and development projects in third world countries. They cooperate in partnership with local people to find sustainable solutions.

"The need for safe water in Cabinda is extremely high. No village or settlement has sufficient water supply as per today. The local government believes that this drill rig is of huge importance to achieve their goal of safe water supply for everyone in Cabinda. Being a non-profit organisation, private donors like Aker Kvaerner and Total, who take social responsibility in the regions they operate in seriously, are essential to us", says Geir Ommundsen, managing director of Yme.

Aker Kvaerner was awarded the contract to deliver the subsea oil production system for Total's Dalia project in May 2003.

ENDS

 

Media:
Torbjørn S. Andersen, SVP Group Communications, Aker Kvaerner. Tel: +47 67 51 30 36,
Mob: +47 928 85 542

Endre Johansen, communications manager, Aker Kvaerner Subsea. Tel: +47 22 94 58 91, Mob: +47 416 10 605. E-mail: endre.johansen@akerkvaerner.com

 

Investor relations:
Lasse Torkildsen, VP Investor Relations, Aker Kvaerner. Tel: +47 67 51 30 39

 

Career opportunities:
Visit http://www.akerkvaerner.com/Internet/CareerCentre

 

AKER KVÆRNER ASA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Kvaerner"), is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. The business within Aker Kvaerner comprises several industries, including Oil & Gas, Refining & Chemicals, Mining & Metals and Power Generation. The Aker Kvaerner group is organised in a number of separate legal entities. Aker Kvaerner is used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities.

The parent company in the group is Aker Kværner ASA. Aker Kvaerner has aggregated annual revenues of approximately NOK 50 billion and employs approximately 24 000 people in about 30 countries.

Aker Kvaerner is part of Aker (www.akerasa.com), a group of premier companies with a focus on energy, maritime and marine-resources industries. The Aker companies share a common set of values and long traditions of industrial innovation. As an industrial owner with a 40.27 per cent holding in Aker Kvaerner, Aker ASA takes an active role in the development of its holdings.

 

Aker Kvaerner Subsea is a leading provider of a complete range of surface and subsea solutions for the oil and gas industry - from concept screening and design through manufacturing, fabrication and commissioning. Aker Kvaerner Subsea's ability as a world-wide total system provider is backed by a wide portfolio of products which are maintained for the complete life of field. Aker Kvaerner Subsea's capability is available for both new and existing fields either as individual activities or complete packages.

This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer, see our web-pages www.akerkvaerner.com