Aker Solutions has formally opened its new subsea plant in Curitiba, Brazil.
The new facility will employ about 850 people and is dedicated to machining, welding, surface treatment, assembly and testing of Christmas trees and other subsea equipment.
“The facility will build on and strengthen our nearly four-decade presence in Brazil, which is a key global offshore market with significant deepwater and subsea potential,” Aker Solutions’ chief executive officer Luis Araujo said. “It reinforces our commitment to developing local competence and working with our customers to create long-term value in this major oil and gas province.”
According to the company, the plant, located in the city of São José dos Pinhais, will double the company’s production capacity in the country.
The company earlier this year secured a contract to provide maintenance and other services on subsea equipment delivered by Aker Solutions to Petrobras in Brazil. The agreement has a fixed period of three years valued at BRL 435 million (NOK 1 billion) after tax and may be extended by another three years.
“The new plant enables us to cost-effectively support Petrobras’ production and growth plans and deliver on our existing order backlog in Brazil,” said Maria Peralta , head of Aker Solutions’ Brazilian operations. “It provides sufficient capacity for future business needs.”