Ashmore Energy International (AEI) Agrees to Acquire Shell's interests in AEI and Shell Joint-Venture Businesses in Brazil and Bolivia.

HOUSTON -- Ashmore Energy International (AEI) announced today an agreement for the acquisition of Shell's interests in the AEI and Shell joint-venture businesses in Brazil and Bolivia. The transaction is pending regulatory approvals and consents, and the assets involved include:

* Cuiaba Integrated Project (AEI's share to increase from 50% to 100%), comprising:

            -- EPE - Empresa Produtora de Energia Ltda.
               (EPE or Pantanal Energia), a 480-MW gas-fired power
               plant in Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

            -- Gasocidente de Mato Grosso Ltda. (GOM), a natural gas
               pipeline company in Brazil, transporting gas from the
               Bolivian border to the EPE power plant.

            -- GasOriente Boliviano Ltda. (GOB), a natural gas
               pipeline company in Bolivia connected at the
               Bolivia-Brazil border to the GOM pipeline.

            -- Transborder Gas Services (TBS), a natural gas
               marketing company servicing the EPE power plant.

* Transredes Transporte de Hidrocarburos S.A. (Transredes), a natural gas and liquids pipeline company in Bolivia providing domestic and export gas and liquids transportation and services (AEI's share to increase from 25% to 50%).

* GasTransboliviano S.A. (GTB), the Bolivian side of the Bolivia-Brazil pipeline (AEI's share to increase from 17% to 34%).

* Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolivia-Brasil S.A. (TBG), the Brazilian side of the Bolivia-Brazil pipeline (AEI's share to increase from 4% to 8%).

The acquisition is in line with AEI's strategy to grow its essential energy infrastructure asset base, reinforce its existing business lines and continuously seek to operate its assets with excellence.

Joao Carlos Albuquerque, AEI's Vice President responsible for Brazil and Bolivia, commented on the transaction: "This transaction reinforces our position as a key player in the South American energy market and demonstrates AEI's commitment with Bolivia and Brazil. These assets are strategically located and are critical for the energy supply of the region, and the acquisition will further strengthen our platform to grow in South America".

AEI owns and operates essential energy infrastructure in emerging markets. AEI manages interests in a group of 20 energy assets with operations in 17 countries and more than USD 2.5 billion in revenues (pro forma) and 10,000 employees. The Company serves over 8.5 million customers worldwide by operating businesses in Power Distribution, Power Generation, and Natural Gas Transportation, Distribution and Services, with more than 37,000 km of gas and liquids pipelines, 129,000 km of power distribution lines, and a gross installed capacity of 1,675 MW. You can visit the AEI website at www.ashmoreenergy.com.