THE modifications, maintenance and operations arm of Kvaerner Oil and Gas has won a major redevelopment project.

Kvaerner MMO, based in Stockton, is carrying out a major redevelopment project at Huntsman's Tioxide Site at Greatham, near Hartlepool.

An alliance has been set up, combining the experience of Kvaerner, ABB Eutech and Tioxide, to dismantle an ageing plant at Greatham which will become redundant when a £55m investment project comes on stream next summer.

Phase one of the deconstruction project will be to define and develop the workscope for removing the redundant Black End plant at Greatham.

The complex job involves the purging, decontamination and dismantling of the old plant and land remediation. There will be a critical timing element, to ensure successful synchronisation between the start-up of the new Icon Two plant and the decommissioning and shutdown of the Black End unit.

The deconstruction project, with a completion date of 2005, has an anticipated cost of several million pounds, which will ensure that the workforce at Kvaerner on Teesside will be maintained.

Kvaerner's operations manager, Tony Jester, said: "The contract award is a welcome addition to our portfolio, especially at the Greatham location, where the company has been safely providing maintenance services for a number of years for Huntsman Tioxide."

Paul Hards, Huntsman project manager for the Greatham site restructuring, said: "We have worked with Kvaerner for several years and they have supplied us with maintenance services in the area for some time.

"The alliance will use and build upon the skills and experience of Kvaerner, ABB Eutech and ourselves, working to a carefully planned programme."

Kvaerner employs more than 1,000 on Teesside