Tucson, Arizona USA - 23 May 2008: Aker Solutions, a global provider to the process and energy industries, has signed an agreement to perform engineering and procurement (EP) services for the design and installation of the Safford acid plant and area improvements. The acid plant, located in southeastern Arizona, is owned and operated by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX).

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. has decided to build a sulphuric acid plant on their Safford Mine property to provide acid for the leaching pads at the Safford copper mine.

The implementation of the acid plant requires improvements at the site to support the plant. Provisions are to be made for the handling of molten sulfur, handling of product acid, turbine generator for power production, cooling towers for cooling water, hydrogen peroxide exhaust scrubber, and electrical substations.

The engineering and procurement portion of the work undertaken by Aker Solutions will involve process, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation, civil, structural, procurement and cost estimation services.

Aker Solutions will develop basic engineering, detailed engineering, procurement, and construction document packages to support the construction and procurement of long lead equipment.

Engineering for the plant started February 2008, and construction will start October, 2008. Overall project completion is expected in the 3rd quarter of 2009.

The work will be undertaken by the Aker Solutions subsidiary, Aker Metals Inc. in Tucson, Arizona.

Aker Kvaerner has changed its name to Aker Solutions. For over 150 years, Aker Solutions has delivered solutions for some of the world's most complex engineering and construction challenges. The name Aker Solutions represents a simplification and strengthening of its corporate identity and outlines its offering of comprehensive industrial solutions. It identifies its connection with Aker, a large industrial group with operations in industries and sectors with which it is engaged. It communicates the long term committed ownership of Aker and its synergies with other Aker companies.

 

Media:
Guy Carraux, Vice President, Aker Metals Inc., Tucson, Arizona USA
Tel: +1 520 917 5479, Mob: +1 520 609 8925

Lola Kolbach, Communications Manager, Aker Solutions, Santiago, Chile
Tel: +56 2 336 3520

Jannik Lindbæk Jr., SVP Corporate Communications, Aker Solutions. Tel: +47 67 51 30 36,
Mobile: +47 977 55 622

Suppliers:
For further information about sourcing and potential subcontracts for this project, please contact: Rodger Liang, VP Supply Management, Process & Construction, Aker Solutions, Tel:  +86 10 640 966 36

Investor Relations:
Lasse Torkildsen, SVP Investor Relations, Aker Solutions. Tel: +47 67 51 30 39, Mobile: +47 911 37 194

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

Aker Solutions ASA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Solutions"), is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. Aker Solutions' business serves several industries, including oil & gas, refining & chemicals, mining & metals and power generation. The Aker Solutions group is organised in a number of separate legal entities. Aker Solutions is used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities. 

 

Aker Solutions' parent company is Aker Solutions ASA.  Aker Solutions has aggregated annual revenues of approximately NOK 58 billion and employs approximately 24 000 people in about 30 countries.

Aker Solutions is part of Aker (www.akerasa.com), a group of premier companies with a focus on energy, maritime and marine resource industries. The Aker companies share a common set of values and a long tradition of industrial innovation. Through its majority-owned holding company Aker Holding AS, Aker controls 40.27 percent of the shares in Aker Solutions, and takes an active role in the development of the company.  

Aker Solutions' Process and Construction business area is a world leader in the project management, design and construction of major projects spanning refining, petrochemical processing, metals and mining, power generation, and acid plants.  From initial concept through technology development, process technology application, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations, maintenance, modification and decommissioning, we provide our customers with the full life cycle of services.  Process and Construction provides sound local expertise, combined with the depth and strength of global project operations.

Aker Solutions provides design, engineering, procurement, construction and project management services for mining and metals processing facilities on every continent. With its Metals Headquarters based in Santiago, Chile, Aker Solutions has other metals offices located in Toronto, Canada; Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A.; combined with regional metals capabilities in Perth, Brisbane, and Melbourne, Australia; Mumbai, India and Stockton-on-Tees, U.K.  Aker Kvaerner provides global capability to serve its clients across the full project cycle from studies through to design engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and startup.  Specialized expertise spans: Precious Metals, Nickel, Copper, Molybdenum, Iron Ore, Zinc, Uranium, Evaporites and Industrial Minerals.

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