AES Announces Plans to Expand Electricity Service in Cameroon.Secures $340 Million in Non-Recourse Financing to More Than Double Number of People Served ARLINGTON, Va. -- The AES Corporation AES Corporation AES (NYSE) is a Fortune 1000 company that generates and distributes electrical power. It was founded on January 28, 1981 by Roger Sant from the US Federal Energy Administration and Dennis Bakke from the Office of Management and Budget. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : AES) announced today that its subsidiary, AES SONEL, plans to expand its electricity network in Cameroon, more than doubling the number of people it currently serves over the next 15 years and extending its network to previously unserved parts of the country. The improvements are part of an amended concession agreement Concession Agreement A right granted by a government to a corporation. It specifies rules under which the company can operate locally. Notes: Some concession agreements might include tax breaks for the corporation, in order to keep them from moving to another jurisdiction. AES SONEL has reached with the Government of Cameroon. AES also announced that AES SONEL secured a $340 million ([euro]260 million) financing package--one of the largest ever provided to a privatized utility in Sub-Saharan Africa--to finance a majority of these system improvements. AES SONEL expects to add approximately 50,000 new electricity connections each year over the next 15 years. The company also plans to upgrade its existing transmission, distribution and generation facilities. AES SONEL is the sole electric utility in Cameroon and currently generates and distributes electricity to more than 528,000 customers in the country. "This is the most ambitious expansion program for Cameroon's electricity sector. We expect to more than double the number of people we serve in Cameroon and to provide electricity to thousands of individuals who never had it before," said John McLaren John McLaren is the name of several people:
(1) (CompuServe Information Service) See CompuServe. (2) (Card Information S and Africa region. "AES SONEL is committed to improving Cameroon's energy sector, which is essential to the country's continued economic development and we're pleased to move forward with the government under our amended concession agreement." Since AES acquired SONEL in 2001, AES has significantly expanded the country's back-up power generation capacity in Cameroon. In 2004, AES SONEL finalized construction and began operation of an 85 MW thermal power plant, called Limbe, which has increased the country's available generating capacity in the dry season by approximately 20%. "Over the last six years, we have steadily improved and expanded electricity generation and distribution across Cameroon," said Jean David Bile, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of AES SONEL. "Under our investment program, we will continue to improve the reliability and efficiency of our generation, transmission and distribution systems. We thank the Government of Cameroon for its support of AES SONEL and the development of the country's power sector, and for the continued support of the development banks." The 13-year $340 million financing was provided by a syndicate comprising eight developmental finance institutions, which includes the International Finance Corporation (IFC (Internet Foundation Classes) A class library from Netscape that provides an application framework and graphical user interface (GUI) routines for Java programmers. IFC was later made part of the Java Foundation Classes (JFC). See JFC, AFC and AWT. See also ICF. ), the European Investment Bank European Investment Bank, nonprofit bank created in 1958 by the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (now part of the European Union [EU]). , African Development Bank, the Central African Central African may mean:
FMO Flavin-Containing Monooxygenase FMO Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (Dutch: Netherlands Development Finance Company) FMO Fire Management Officer (National Park Service) - The Netherlands Development Finance Company and Proparco. About AES AES is one of the world's largest global power companies, with 2005 revenues of $11 billion. With operations in 26 countries on five continents, AES's generation and distribution facilities have the capacity to serve 100 million people worldwide. Our 14 regulated utilities amassed 2005 annual sales of over 82,000 GWh and our 122 generation facilities have the capacity to generate over 44,000 megawatts. Our global workforce of 30,000 people is committed to operational excellence and meeting the world's growing power Growing Power is an urban agriculture organization headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It runs the last functional farm within the Milwaukee city limits and also organizes activities in Chicago. needs. To learn more about AES, please visit www.aes.com or contact AES media relations at media@aes.com. Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. Disclosure This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those related to future earnings, growth and financial and operating performance. Forward-looking statements are not intended to be a guarantee of future results, but instead constitute AES's current expectations based on reasonable assumptions. Forecasted financial information is based on certain material assumptions. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, continued normal levels of operating performance and electricity demand at our distribution companies and operational performance at our contract generation businesses consistent with historical levels, as well as achievements of planned productivity improvements and incremental growth investments at normalized investment levels and rates of return consistent with prior experience. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in our forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and other factors. Important factors that could affect actual results are discussed in AES's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the risks discussed under Item 1A "Risk Factors" in AES's 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. . Readers are encouraged to read AES's filings to learn more about the risk factors associated with AES's business. AES undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. |
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