This investment of approximately EUR 1.0 billion arises from Essent's long term
strategic objectives of providing reliable, reasonably-priced and sustainable energy.
In order to achieve this ambition, Essent wants to further reduce the emissions per
kWh and to limit the CO2 risk by investing in the development of large-scale gasfired
units and wind projects.

On behalf of Essent, Alstom will modernise the Claus Power Plant and will expand the total capacity from 1.280 MW to 1.920 MW. This operation will also lead to an improvement of the efficiency being achieved, from 39% to 58.5%, whilst the CO2 emission shall decrease by more than 40%. It is anticipated that the new Claus Power Plant will be completed in mid 2012.

Michiel Boersma, about the collaboration with Alstom: “The construction of a power plant like this one requires high-quality technology and an innovative approach. With Alstom, we have a contractor on hand that subscribes to both of these requirements. The operation, which involves the modernisation and expansion of the Claus Power Plant, will ultimately result in an improvement of the efficiency of almost 20%. This will lead to Claus C being the largest gasfired power plant in the Netherlands and we are proud of that!”

The large-scale project will boost employment in the province of Limburg and the municipality of Maasgouw in particular. Michiel Boersma: “In a time of a waning labour market, it is an additional impact which will benefit local directors and the local population. That was already the case more than thirty years ago – when the original Claus Power Plant was built – and that is still the case now.”

About Essent

Essent is the largest energy company in the Netherlands and supplies electricity, gas and heat to domestic and business customers. Essent is active throughout the whole energy chain: from the production of energy to the supply to the end users. The corporation views the Netherlands as its home market, but has also built up a significant market position in Germany and, to an increasing degree, in Belgium. The environmental branch of the group processes waste into energy and residual currents. In 2008, Essent recorded a turnover of EUR 9.0 billion and a net result of EUR 887 million. Essent has more than 10,000 employees (FTE). The total production capacity of Essent's power plants and wind parks amounts to 6,000 Megawatts. For additional information, please go to www.essent.eu

For more information, please contact:
Bert Hendriks, Essent's spokesperson, tel.: 06 50 47 94 59 or Essent Media Relations, tel.:
0800 – 02 44 022, e-mail mediarelaties@essent.nl