Corporate | 27 August 2001 17:04

Energiekontor AG english

Corporate-news announcement sent by DGAP. The sender is solely responsible for the contents of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Energiekontor AG expands its activities in Spain Bremen, 27th August 2001. Realisation of wind power projects which Energiekontor carries out in cooperation with German WindSolar AG in Spain continues to run according to schedule. The Spanish authorities granted the so- called Autorizacion Adminstrativa for the first five wind farms in the Spanish region of Albacete. This preliminary stage of a building permit is an important milestone in the project development of a total of 14 wind farms with 50 MW each. Therefore, a beginning of construction early 2002 is now probable. The project in the Spanish State of Castilla-La-Mancha with a total of 700 MW is the largest of three projects with an overall output capacity of 800 MW, which Energiekontor AG develops together with partners. By signing a third lease agreement Energiekontor AG is securing itself a site for two new wind farms in the province of Granada in southern Spain. Up to 90 MW total output capacity is to be installed. The wind survey is already underway. In doing so the wind farm project developer from Bremen is stepping up his commitment outside Germany and is at the same time laying the foundation for acquisition his first site on his own. Up until now the associates have looked after the technical aspects of project development while Energiekontor AG has looked after project coordination and raising the finance through its Spanish subsidiary. Two projects are located in the Andalusia region, in southern Spain, to which Granada also belongs, and one is in Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain. All three projects are already at the approval stage. Spain ranks amongst the most important wind-power countries in Europe. At the end of 2000 the installed output there amounted to 2,836 MW. This means that it is in second place behind Germany with 6,107 MW. Spain also holds second place, in front of Denmark as well, with regard to the rate of growth. Growth market Europe Energiekontor AG is positioning itself outside Germany in Europe by means of a large number of projects in selected countries offering the best background conditions for wind energy. These include Greece, which was one of the first EU states to promote renewable energy. The commitment of Energiekontor AG began in Greece through a subsidiary in 1995 when the Greek Power Supply Act came into force. The first 3 MW wind farm called Zarax I has been linked up to the grid since May 2001. The rights of use and enjoyment are to hand for another wind farm with 6.3 MW capacity on Crete. At present there is an invitation to tender in progress for development projects as part of the liberalisation of the energy market in Greece. The project developer from Bremen is involved in this and is submitting ten projects with a total output capacity of 375 MW on land and – as the sole supplier to do so – five offshore wind farms with 1,254 MW. In Portugal, too the Portuguese Power Supply Act ensures that wind power is an option from an economic perspective. Energiekontor has been active there since 1995 via a subsidiary. Four projects are at the planning stage in the north of the country with a total of 51 MW nominal output. Work is to start on one project in the near future. The others are to be constructed next year. In Great Britain the subsidiary of Energiekontor is working together with associates and is planning to erect three offshore wind farms with a total output of just under 100 MW. On land it is working on two projects together with associates, each with 3 MW. Other projects are planned in Italy as well as in France, since the Power Supply Act has been in force since June this year. Contact:Martin Bretag, Director Investor Relations, Tel.: (+49-421) 3304-210, E-Mail: ir@energiekontor.de end of message, (c)DGAP 27.08.2001