The new operation centre, which is located within state-owned base of Petroleum Technical Services Corp (PTSC), will provide strategic and effective support services for Aker Solutions' onshore and offshore oil and gas customers in the country.

The opening ceremony, held at the new office at Vung Tau today, was jointly officiated by Egil Martinussen, president - Asia Pacific for Aker Solutions' subsea business area, and Mr Khanh, director, Petro Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city branch.

Aker Solutions' general manager Surface Products and Services, Crawford Tennant, said the new operation base demonstrated the company's commitment to provide unparalleled services to its customers, while acting as a nucleus in Vietnam to capture other potential clients.

Tennant said: "Vietnam represents an important market in our overall surface and subsea business.  Our client base has expanded from one in 1996, when we won a contract with Petronas Carigali, to now several big players such as CLJOC, Vietsovpetro (VSP), Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), Trouong Son and BP Vietnam."

Vung Tau, which is located 125km from Ho Chih Minh city, was chosen as the operation base of Aker Solutions as it is the petroleum centre of Vietnam in which crude oil and gas exploration activities form the basis of the city's economy.

"Interestingly, Vung Tau, which means 'anchorage', also coincides with our intent of establishing long term business relations within this country," Tennant added.

The operation base, consisting of an office and a 740sqmt warehouse, currently employs a team of six engineers. However, the team is in the process of recruiting several more local engineers to extent greater support services to existing and future customers.

  

ENDS

Media:
Philip Ng, communications & marketing executive, Aker Solutions. Tel : +60 3 23818309, Mob : +6019 3592116, E-mail : philip.ng@akersolutions.com

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

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

Suppliers:
For further information about sourcing and potential subcontracts for this project, please contact [BA Global Sourcing Champion, telephone number found here: http://www.akersolutions.com/Internet/SuppliersCentre/Contacts/SupplyManagementContacts.htm.

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. As an industrial owner controlling 40.27 percent of the shares in Aker Solutions through Aker Holding AS, Aker ASA takes an active role in the development of Aker Solutions.  

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