From le@ecosecurities.com Fri Nov 23 13:37:09 2001 From: "Le Chen" To: Subject: (2-Sc) Guatemalan Hydroelectric facility enters into major international green certificate transaction with Nuon Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 12:32:59 -0000 Guatemalan Hydroelectric facility enters into major international green certificate transaction with Nuon News Release – November 22, 2001 Los Angeles, US – EcoSecurities Ltd and E&Co, two leading environmental finance firms, are pleased to announce the completion of the first international green certificate transaction involving assets in a developing country. The transaction, between Hidroelectrica Papeles Elaborados (HPE) a hydro electric owner and operator in Guatemala, and Nuon, the largest electricity distributor in the Netherlands, represents one of the largest green certificate transactions to date, with Nuon committing to purchase 100% the environmental benefits of HPE for the next ten years. The certificates are being transacted from HPE’s 8.2 MW run of river Poza Verde facility in Guatemala and will be used by Nuon as part of its green energy products. Commenting on the transaction, Seb Walhain, Product Manager, Nuon Renewable Energy, said, "we are pleased to keep expanding our certificate trading. Nuon is committed to increasing renewable energy generation around the world, through its own efforts and via transactions such as these” HPE’s CEO, Jaime Arimany stated, “For a small developing country developer and operator of renewable energy, it is gratifying to find the opportunity to gain a benefit from international trading and environmental values. We look forward to the opportunity to undertake further transactions along these lines in the future” EcoSecurities Head of Brokerage, Jack MacDonald, commented that, "These kinds of transactions have the potential to greatly increase market liquidity for environmental values. They will help accelerate renewable energy penetration and convince governments that global carbon reduction targets are achievable”. Marc Stuart, EcoSecurities Director stated, “EcoSecurities is committed to using all emerging market mechanisms to maximize economic benefits to our clients and environmental benefits to the global community.” Nuon, a multi-utility company with the largest client base in the Netherlands, supplies electricity to over two and a half million customers; many of whom receive their gas, heat and water services from Nuon as well. A leader in Renewable Energy in the Netherlands, Nuon’s international activities in renewable energy range from participation in green markets in the United States and Germany, to building and operating renewable energy projects in China, Germany, France, UK, India and Mali. Hidroelectrica Papeles Elaborados SA (HPE) Project is an 8.2 MW run of river project on the Aguacapa River in the township of Pueblo Nuevo Viñas, department of Santa Rosa, Guatemala. HPE has a 10 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Comercializadora Electrica de Guatemala (COMEGSA). EcoSecurities is an environmental investment and advisory firm that specializes in services to facilitate innovative environmental finance solutions for renewable energy and other environmentally sustainable processes. With over two dozen professionals spanning legal, policy economic, technical and financial capacity through offices in the US, UK, Netherlands, Brazil and Australia, the firm is led by individuals who have been involved in the field since the first international emission reduction projects commenced. EcoSecurities has successfully advised clients on the transaction of emissions reductions to the Prototype Carbon Fund the Netherlands ERUPT program, the private carbon reduction market and the international green certificate market. E&Co provides enterprise development services to assist the entrepreneur to develop or refine the proposed business approach and to ensure the right issues are being addressed from the human, financial and technical capacity points of view. Where appropriate, E&Co provides significant assistance in identifying co-financiers and/or later stage founders and works with the sponsor in preparing and presenting submissions to these organizations. Since 1994, E&Co has invested over $7.5 million in 60 enterprises in 28 developing countries. For more information on EcoSecurities, please call Marc Stuart Director EcoSecurities US Telephone: (1) 909 621-1358 Fax: (1) 909 621-7438 Email: us@ecosecurities.com In Europe, contact: Lionel Fretz Director EcoSecurities UK Tel: (44) 207 409 3325 Fax: (44) 207 495 4008 Email: lionel@ecosecurities.com For more information on E&Co, please call Gina Rodolico E&Co Telephone: (1) 973-680-9100 Fax:(1)973-680- 8066 Email:Gina@energyhouse.com For more information on Nuon, please call Annemarie Goedmakers Director Nuon Renewables Telephone: +31 (26) 8442143 Fax: +31 (26) 844 2186 For more information on Papeles, please call Jaime Arimany CEO Papeles Elaborados S.A. Telephone: + (502) 360-3103 Fax: + (502) 360-3123