Norway's Kvaerner and China Offshore Oil Engineering Co. (COOEC) have officially opened an engineering joint venture, Kvaerner COOEC Engineering & Technology (KCET), in Qingdao, Shandong, China.
KCET will carry out and further develop joint engineering capability for international EPC projects, says Kvaerner. More than 70 engineering personnel from both COOEC and Kvaerner are already working to execute basic engineering for KCET's first topside module project in China, Enping Phase II.
"Together with Kvaerner we can provide full EPCI solutions to international clients in a competitive manner", says Zhou Xuezhong, President & CEO of COOEC.
The joint venture follows an April 2013 10-year strategic cooperation agreement between the two firms, with respect to global business development.
Currently, COOEC is executing a part of the expansion of the Nyhamna onshore processing plant in Norway for Kvaerner.
"The COOEC partnership is important for Kvaerner's future international growth as well as further development of cost efficient delivery models," Jan Arve Haugan, President & CEO of Kvaerner said.
The new company, which received its business license this spring is headed by General Manager Arnstein Ansnes from Kvaerner and his deputy is Zhang Yanfang from COOEC.
The official opening on 2 July 2014 was witnessed by Zhou Xuezhong and Jan Arve Haugan.