Tuesday, March 18, 2008

KBR awarded contract to provide tech license, basic engineering

KBR awarded contract to provide technology license and basic engineering for Ningbo Wanhua Aniline Plant

Houston (BUSINESS WIRE) - KBR (NYSE:KBR) today announced that it has been awarded a contract by Ningbo Wanhua Polyurethanes Company to provide the technology and basic engineering for a 360,000 MTPA aniline plant.

Once complete, Wanhua's aniline plant will be the largest in China and the largest single-train facility in the world.

Wanhua uses aniline to produce methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, or MDI, which is used in polyurethane products such as foam insulation, coatings and adhesives. Growth in the demand for polyurethane products is higher in Asia than in any other region. Wanhua, China's largest producer of MDI, is expanding its existing MDI capacity to a world-scale 600,000 tons per year to help meet this demand.

The aniline technology is available to KBR through a licensing alliance with DuPont.

"DuPont aniline technology is recognized in China for its performance, safety, reliability, and value," said Tim Challand, President, Technology for KBR. "The DuPont aniline process allows Wanhua to implement a technology that reduces their project costs while ensuring safety and performance."

The Tianji Group in China, which is one of Wanhua's suppliers of aniline, also uses DuPont aniline technology under a license from KBR through their alliance with DuPont.

"We have used the aniline product from Tianji for MDI production and recognized its advantages over other technologies," stated Mr Liao Zengtai, President of Ningbo Wanhua.

"Also, as we increase our plant capacity to world-scale limits, meeting our business requirements for capital projects is even more critical. This was another important consideration when choosing KBR for this project."

KBR is a global engineering, construction and services company supporting the energy, petrochemicals, government services and civil infrastructure sectors. The company offers a wide range of services through its Downstream, Government and Infrastructure, Services, Technology, Upstream and Ventures business segments.

For more information, visit www.kbr.com.

KBR Director, Communications Heather Browne, 713-753-3775 heather.browne@kbr.com or Director, Investor RelationsRob
Kukla, Jr., 713-753-5082 investors@kbr.com

No comments: