Aker Kvaerner ASA (formerly Kvaerner ASA) has secured a contract from the Rio Tinto Group for the Lattert HIsmelt^® iron plant at Kwinnana, near Perth in Western Australia. Aker Kvaerner will provide engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning services at the US$208 million project.

The HIsmelt^® process involves the injection of iron-ore fines and coal directly into a bath of molten iron via water-cooled lances. The process is claimed to be the most environmentally-friendly way of producing iron. It provides an alternative to the traditional blast furnace, and a means of providing low-cost iron units for electric-arc furnaces. Construction is scheduled to begin early in January 2003 and the plant will be commissioned in 2004.