**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in his capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint JAMES R.
      MOFFETT his true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution,
      to
      execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of him, in his name and in his
      capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report of the Company on Form
      10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment or amendments
      thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental thereto,
      and
      the undersigned hereby grants to said attorney full power and authority to
      do
      and perform each and every act and thing whatsoever that said attorney may
      deem
      necessary or advisable to carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the
      undersigned might or could do personally or in the capacity or capacities as
      aforesaid, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts and things which said
      attorney may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of
      Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.








s/s Richard C. Adkerson


Richard
      C. Adkerson











**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in his capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint JAMES R.
      MOFFETT and RICHARD C. ADKERSON, and each of them acting individually, his
      true
      and lawful attorney-in-fact with power to act without the other and with full
      power of substitution, to execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of him,
      in his name and in his capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report
      of
      the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment
      or amendments thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental
      thereto, and the undersigned hereby grants to said attorneys, and each of them,
      full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
      whatsoever that said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable
      to
      carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the undersigned might or could
      do
      personally or in the capacity or capacities as aforesaid, hereby ratifying
      and
      confirming all acts and things which said attorney or attorneys may do or cause
      to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.





s/s Robert A. Day Robert
        A. Day








**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in his capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint JAMES R.
      MOFFETT and RICHARD C. ADKERSON and each of them acting individually, his true
      and lawful attorney-in-fact with power to act without the other and with full
      power of substitution, to execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of him,
      in his name and in his capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report
      of
      the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment
      or amendments thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental
      thereto, and the undersigned hereby grants to said attorneys, and each of them,
      full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
      whatsoever that said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable
      to
      carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the undersigned might or could
      do
      personally or in the capacity or capacities as aforesaid, hereby ratifying
      and
      confirming all acts and things which said attorney or attorneys may do or cause
      to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.











/s/
      Gerald J. Ford


Gerald
      J.
      Ford




















**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in his capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint JAMES R.
      MOFFETT and RICHARD C. ADKERSON and each of them acting individually, his true
      and lawful attorney-in-fact with power to act without the other and with full
      power of substitution, to execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of him,
      in his name and in his capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report
      of
      the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment
      or amendments thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental
      thereto, and the undersigned hereby grants to said attorneys, and each of them,
      full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
      whatsoever that said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable
      to
      carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the undersigned might or could
      do
      personally or in the capacity or capacities as aforesaid, hereby ratifying
      and
      confirming all acts and things which said attorney or attorneys may do or cause
      to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.








/s/ H. Devon Graham, Jr.


H.
      Devon
      Graham, Jr.





**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in his capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint JAMES R.
      MOFFETT and RICHARD C. ADKERSON, and each of them acting individually, his
      true
      and lawful attorney-in-fact with power to act without the other and with full
      power of substitution, to execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of him,
      in his name and in his capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report
      of
      the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment
      or amendments thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental
      thereto, and the undersigned hereby grants to said attorneys, and each of them,
      full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
      whatsoever that said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable
      to
      carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the undersigned might or could
      do
      personally or in the capacity or capacities as aforesaid, hereby ratifying
      and
      confirming all acts and things which said attorney or attorneys may do or cause
      to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.








/s/ Glenn A. Kleinert


Glenn
      A.
      Kleinert





**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in his capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint RICHARD C.
      ADKERSON his true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution,
      to execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of him, in his name and in
      his
      capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report of the Company on Form
      10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment or amendments
      thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental thereto,
      and
      the undersigned hereby grants to said attorney full power and authority to
      do
      and perform each and every act and thing whatsoever that said attorney may
      deem
      necessary or advisable to carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the
      undersigned might or could do personally or in the capacity or capacities as
      aforesaid, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts and things which said
      attorney may do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of
      Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.








/s/ James R. Moffett


James
      R.
      Moffett























**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in his capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint JAMES R.
      MOFFETT and RICHARD C. ADKERSON, and each of them acting individually, his
      true
      and lawful attorney-in-fact with power to act without the other and with full
      power of substitution, to execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of him,
      in his name and in his capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report
      of
      the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment
      or amendments thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental
      thereto, and the undersigned hereby grants to said attorneys, and each of them,
      full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
      whatsoever that said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable
      to
      carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the undersigned might or could
      do
      personally or in the capacity or capacities as aforesaid, hereby ratifying
      and
      confirming all acts and things which said attorney or attorneys may do or cause
      to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.








/s/ C. Howard Murrish


C.
      Howard
      Murrish











**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in his capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint JAMES R.
      MOFFETT and RICHARD C. ADKERSON, and each of them acting individually, his
      true
      and lawful attorney-in-fact with power to act without the other and with full
      power of substitution, to execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of him,
      in his name and in his capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report
      of
      the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment
      or amendments thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental
      thereto, and the undersigned hereby grants to said attorneys, and each of them,
      full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
      whatsoever that said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable
      to
      carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the undersigned might or could
      do
      personally or in the capacity or capacities as aforesaid, hereby ratifying
      and
      confirming all acts and things which said attorney or attorneys may do or cause
      to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.








/s/ B. M. Rankin, Jr.


B.
      M.
      Rankin, Jr.























**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in his capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint JAMES R.
      MOFFETT and RICHARD C. ADKERSON, and each of them acting individually, his
      true
      and lawful attorney-in-fact with power to act without the other and with full
      power of substitution, to execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of him,
      in his name and in his capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report
      of
      the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment
      or amendments thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental
      thereto, and the undersigned hereby grants to said attorneys, and each of them,
      full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
      whatsoever that said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable
      to
      carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the undersigned might or could
      do
      personally or in the capacity or capacities as aforesaid, hereby ratifying
      and
      confirming all acts and things which said attorney or attorneys may do or cause
      to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.








/s/ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.


C.
      Donald
      Whitmire, Jr.




















**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in his capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint JAMES R.
      MOFFETT and RICHARD C. ADKERSON, and each of them acting individually, his
      true
      and lawful attorney-in-fact with power to act without the other and with full
      power of substitution, to execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of him,
      in his name and in his capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report
      of
      the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment
      or amendments thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental
      thereto, and the undersigned hereby grants to said attorneys, and each of them,
      full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
      whatsoever that said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable
      to
      carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the undersigned might or could
      do
      personally or in the capacity or capacities as aforesaid, hereby ratifying
      and
      confirming all acts and things which said attorney or attorneys may do or cause
      to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.








/s/ J. Taylor Wharton


J. Taylor Wharton




















**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in her capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint JAMES R.
      MOFFETT and RICHARD C. ADKERSON, and each of them acting individually, her
      true
      and lawful attorney-in-fact with power to act without the other and with full
      power of substitution, to execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of her,
      in her name and in her capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report
      of
      the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment
      or amendments thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental
      thereto, and the undersigned hereby grants to said attorneys, and each of them,
      full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
      whatsoever that said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable
      to
      carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the undersigned might or could
      do
      personally or in the capacity or capacities as aforesaid, hereby ratifying
      and
      confirming all acts and things which said attorney or attorneys may do or cause
      to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.








/s/ Nancy D. Parmelee


Nancy
      D.
      Parmelee








**POWER
      OF ATTORNEY**








BE
      IT
      KNOWN: That the undersigned, in her capacity or capacities as an officer and/or
      a member of the Board of Directors of McMoRan Exploration Co., a Delaware
      corporation (the “Company”), does hereby make, constitute and appoint JAMES R.
      MOFFETT and RICHARD C. ADKERSON, and each of them acting individually, her
      true
      and lawful attorney-in-fact with power to act without the other and with full
      power of substitution, to execute, deliver and file, for and on behalf of her,
      in her name and in her capacity or capacities as aforesaid, an Annual Report
      of
      the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and any amendment
      or amendments thereto and any other document in support thereof or supplemental
      thereto, and the undersigned hereby grants to said attorneys, and each of them,
      full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
      whatsoever that said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable
      to
      carry out fully the intent of the foregoing as the undersigned might or could
      do
      personally or in the capacity or capacities as aforesaid, hereby ratifying
      and
      confirming all acts and things which said attorney or attorneys may do or cause
      to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.





EXECUTED
      this 29 th day of
      January, 2007.








/s/ Suzanne T. Mestayer


Suzanne
      T. Mestayer