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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.







|/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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.







|/s/ Morrison C. Bethea
|----------------------

Morrison C. Bethea









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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.







|/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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.







|/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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.



|/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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.







|/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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.





|/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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.





|/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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.



|/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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.







|/s/ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.
|---------------------------

C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.



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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.





|/s/ Gabrielle K. McDonald
|-------------------------

Gabrielle K. McDonald





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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.



|/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, 2002, 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 3rd day of February, 2003.





|/s/ Nancy D. Parmelee
|---------------------

Nancy D. Parmelee