AMERICAN
                                                       ECO CORPORATION


          NEWS RELEASE

          AMERICAN ECO CORPORATION 154 University Avenue, Suite 200,
          Toronto, Ontario M5H3Y9
          [NASDAQ SYMBOL: ECGOF/ TSE SYMBOL: ECX/ CBOE SYMBOL: EOQ/ BERLIN
          SYMBOL: AEOGR]

          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1998
          ---------------------------------------------

                                AMERICAN ECO ANNOUNCES
                               SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

          HOUSTON, Texas AMERICAN ECO CORPORATION ANNOUNCED THE COMPANY'S
          BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ADOPTED A SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
          authorizing the distribution of one Right for each common share
          outstanding as of April 20th, 1998.  American Eco indicated that
          it does not know of any pending offer to acquire the Company,
          however the Board did not feel that the current market price for
          American Eco common shares reflects an appropriate value, given
          five years of continuing growth in revenues and earnings.

          Each American Eco common share issued after the record date will
          include one Right.  The Rights will be attached to the common
          shares and will not be initially exercisable.  Rights will become
          exercisable in the circumstances described in the Rights Plan,
          including ten days following the announcement that a person or
          group without prior approval from the Board of Directors has
          acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership
          of 20 percent or more of the outstanding common shares, or ten
          days following the announcement of a takeover bid, tender offer
          or exchange offer.  The Shareholder Rights Plan is in effect
          immediately and applies to acquisitions of shares after April
          19th, 1998 subject to shareholder approval.

          In certain circumstances, the Rights may be redeemed by the
          Company at a price of $0.0001 per Right.  If not redeemed, the
          Rights will expire in ten years, subject to periodic approval by
          shareholders.  A summary of the Rights Plan will be mailed
          shortly to the Company's shareholders in connection with the
          Proxy material for the 1998 Annual and Special Meeting and is
          available upon request from the Company and will be filed with
          the appropriate regulatory agencies.

          AMERICAN ECO is a leading North American provider of SINGLE-
          SOURCE construction, management, maintenance, specialty
          fabrication, and engineering services in the refining,
          petrochemical, utility, forest products and offshore
          manufacturing industries.

          For additional information call:

          David Norris                       Cindy Jackson
          Senior Vice-President & CFO        Director of Investor Relations
          Houston, Texas                     Houston, Texas
          (888) 774-3246                     (888) 774-3246
          www.americaneco.com
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