The project is owned by Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD), which is the largest diversified mining company in the Americas. Sossego will mine 15 million tonnes of ore per year for processing via flotation concentration, resulting in production of 465,000 tonnes per year of copper concentrate. The project uses the largest crushing, grinding and flotation equipment available in the world, with proven technology in each area.

CVRD, Aker Kvaerner, and the project contractors achieved the impressive schedule performance by using a fully integrated program of engineering, procurement and construction, combined with the proven strength of Aker Kvaerner's commissioning and ramp-up driven approach. Aker Kvaerner has been retained to assist in ramping up production to August 2004 and will maintain a plant process senior operator for an additional eighteen months.

Throughout the project Aker Kvaerner, as Owner's Engineer, provided a team of senior engineers, managers, and project controls specialists to advise and assist MSS.  Experts were drawn from Aker Kvaerner's worldwide resources including personnel from Brazil, the United States, Canada, and Chile.  Aker Kvaerner Bowen, the specialized commissioning and plant services business unit, led the commissioning and ramp-up efforts.

Commented Jim McGrath, President of Aker Kvaerner Metals, "This was a benchmark project for CVRD, marking its entry into the copper industry. Aker Kvaerner committed to helping CVRD complete a project of this magnitude on budget and on schedule. The project went very smoothly, and we look forward to working with CVRD on future copper developments while maintaining the standards established on the Sossego Project."

The Aker Kvaerner entity that was signatory to the project agreements was Aker Kvaerner E & C, a division of Aker Kvaerner Canada, Inc.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Jason Cohen, Aker Kvaerner Metals, San Ramon, California, Tel: +1 925-244-6064

 

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 span a number of industries, including Oil & Gas production, Refining & Chemicals, Mining & Metals, , Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology, Power Generation and Pulp & Paper. Aker Kvaerner has aggregated annual revenues of approximately USD 4.5 billion and employs around 22,000 employees in more than 30 countries.

The Aker Kvaerner group consists of 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.

 

 

Oil, Gas, Process & Energy executes technology development, engineering and construction services for industries as diverse as Oil & Gas Onshore and Offshore Developments, Chemicals & Polymers, Pharmaceuticals, Government Services, and Mining & Metals. With an annual turnover of US$1.14 billion, Oil, Gas, Process & Energy (OGPE) business area of Aker Kvaerner employs more than 5,400 people operating worldwide.

 

Aker Kvaerner Metals serves mining and mineral processing companies by providing studies, project management, EPC, EPCM, commissioning and start-up services. Full service offices are located in San Ramon, California and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States; Santiago, Chile; and Toronto, Canada. Aker Kvaerner Bowen, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, specialises in plant start-up and services to operating plants. Services to the Metals industry are also provided by AK Engineering Services in Europe and Aker Kvaerner Australia. These three organisations work closely together in support of our clients.

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

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