The KGD6-MJ1 well was drilled in a water depth of 1,024 metres - and to a total depth of 4,509 metres - to explore the prospectivity of a Mesozoic Synrift Clastic reservoir lying over 2,000 metres below the already producing reservoirs in the D1-D3 gas fields.

Formation evaluation indicates a gross gas and condensate column in the well of about 155 metres in the Mesozoic reservoirs. In the drill stem test, the well flowed 30.6 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) and liquid rate of 2,121 barrels a day with a choke of 36/64" with a flowing bottom hole pressure of 8,461 psia suggesting good flow potential. Well flow rates during such tests are limited by the rig and well test equipment configuration.

The discovery, named 'D-55', has been notified to the Government of India (GoI) and the Management Committee of the block. This discovery is expected to add to the hydrocarbon resources in the KG D6 block. Appraisal will now commence to better define the scale and quality of the field.

Expressing happiness at the discovery encountered through this well, PMS Prasad, Executive Director, Reliance Industries Limited, stated: 'This is a successful outcome of the combined exploration efforts of the Joint Venture partners with the active support of the GoI. We shall embark on the appraisal program in the next few months in order to evaluate the options for developing this discovery.'
Dr Mike Daly, Executive Vice President Exploration at BP, commented: 'The discovery demonstrates the effective technical co-operation between the partners, allowing us to make a new and significant discovery within KG D6. It follows an 18 month drilling time-out and detailed geoscience work that has re-focused our India exploration program and delivered this early success.'

Mr. Edward Sampson, Chairman, President and CEO of Niko Resources Ltd. stated: 'We congratulate our partners and the Government of India as co-operation in an event like this shows what good can be created for the energy sector and most importantly, for the people of India.'

RIL is the operator of KG D6 with 60% equity. BP has a 30% share and NIKO the remaining 10%.

— WebWireID175157 —

The project aims to mitigate the hazards due to the existing atmospheric flares on offshore associated gas and upcoming integrated gas development facilities, and the risk of gas exposure for personnel during operation and maintenance of these facilities in case of flame out.

The scope of work includes the:

-relocation of the South Relief flare to the east of the existing flare F-14,
-installation of two new ground flares at the existing South Relief flare location,
-demolition of the F-11 and F-14 flares,
-replacement of a tip for flare,
-new electrical substation.

Technip's operating center in Abu Dhabi will execute the project which is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2015.

Vaseem Khan, Senior Vice President of Technip in the Middle East, declared: 'We are delighted to have been awarded this EPC(2) contract by ADMA-OPCO. It confirms their trust in our expertise in complex brownfield design and construction as we have already executed a number of front-end engineering design and detail engineering projects for them.'

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(1) Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company.

(2) Engineering, procurement, construction.

Technip is a world leader in project management, engineering and construction for the energy industry.

From the deepest Subsea oil & gas developments to the largest and most complex Offshore and Onshore infrastructures, our 36,500 people are constantly offering the best solutions and most innovative technologies to meet the world's energy challenges.

Present in 48 countries, Technip has state-of-the-art industrial assets on all continents and operates a fleet of specialized vessels for pipeline installation and subsea construction.

www.technip.com

Technip shares are listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris exchange and the USA over-the-counter (OTC) market as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR: TKPPY).

— WebWireID175142 —

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — FedEx today has released its fifth annual Global Citizenship Report, outlining the company's efforts in its focus areas of Economics & Access, Environment & Efficiency, Community & Disaster Relief, and People & Workplace. Highlights from this year's report include:

• Significant savings from sustainability efforts, including fuel and energy cost savings and materials recycling revenues;
• Successful achievement of the FedEx Express goal to improve the overall fuel efficiency of its vehicle fleet 20 percent by 2020, years ahead of schedule;
• Continued support for disaster relief and preparedness organizations, such as the American Red Cross, Direct Relief, Heart to Heart International, The Salvation Army and others. FedEx moved approximately four million pounds of disaster aid in the wake of Superstorm Sandy alone.

'FedEx is committed to connecting the world responsibly and resourcefully,' said Mitch Jackson, vice president of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, FedEx Corp. 'This year's Global Citizenship Report aligns with the Global Reporting Initiative G3.1 Guidelines to communicate our continued efforts to address sustainable actions and solutions for our customers and our communities in a more standardized and transparent way.'

Environment & Efficiency

FedEx works to achieve our ambitious sustainability goals through EarthSmart®, the FedEx roadmap for operating in an increasingly sustainable way and engaging our stakeholders to help us reduce the environmental impact of our daily business operations. As outlined in this report, EarthSmart has guided FedEx towards the successful accomplishment of one its sustainability goals and a 50 percent increase of two of its goals, focused on increasing vehicle fuel efficiency and reducing aircraft emissions intensity. These aggressive new targets continue to move the world's largest express transportation company forward in an environmentally-conscious manner. The report outlines more accomplishments, including the company's continued focus on alternative transport fuel sources such as electricity, natural gas and biofuels.

In the last year, FedEx has:

• Surpassed and revised its vehicle efficiency sustainability goal. In March 2013, FedEx Express announced that it surpassed its goal to increase the fuel efficiency of its vehicle fleet 20 percent by 2020, as compared with its 2005 performance. FedEx also announced a revised, more aggressive goal to increase the vehicle fuel efficiency of its fleet 30 percent by 2020. The company's significant progress towards its fuel efficiency goal is the result of a number of initiatives, including its strategy of matching the right vehicle to each route, purchasing vehicles with right-sized engines like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, incorporating lower-weight, composite-body Reach vehicles from Spartan / Utilimaster, and increasing the size of its alternative-energy fleet, including hybrid-electric and all-electric vehicles.

• Continued deployments of electric vehicles in cities around the globe. Also in March 2013, FedEx Express announced the introduction of ten all-electric vehicles for use in Hong Kong—the first fleet of zero-emissions electric vehicles for FedEx in Asia Pacific. The company increased the overall size of its alternative-energy vehicle fleet by 18 percent in its fiscal year 2012 alone, with a total of 364 hybrid-electric vehicles and 118 all-electric vehicles. To date, these vehicles have saved almost 500,000 gallons of fuel and traveled more than 15 million miles.

• Continued aircraft fleet replacements. In its fiscal year 2012, FedEx Express introduced seven more Boeing 777 aircraft into our fleet, which use 18 percent less fuel and provide greater payload capacity than the MD-11 aircraft they replace. The company currently has 23 Boeing 777s providing service to 25 cities around the world and is still on track to have 43 777s in service by 2023, as reported last year. Further, FedEx Express expects to introduce the Boeing 767 aircraft into its fleet in Fall 2013, which will further contribute to its ability to meet the newly-revised aircraft emissions intensity reduction target.

FedEx also remains committed to its goal of sourcing 30 percent of its jet fuel from alternative sources by 2030. The company is working with The Nature Conservancy to develop a roadmap to guide the adoption of biofuels for our long-haul segments. This roadmap can also act as a guide for the transportation sector as a whole—helping FedEx and others use more sustainably sourced fuels. Further, the FedEx Express Fuel Sense program, an EarthSmart initiative focused on more efficient aircraft operations, has successfully identified dozens of ways to reduce fuel usage and carbon emissions while continuing to ensure safe aircraft operations. Fuel Sense saves 49 million gallons of jet fuel and avoids more than 466,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions each year.

• Expanded its network of solar energy facilities. In October 2012, FedEx broke ground on its solar energy facility at the FedEx Express hub in Newark, N.J. This is the ninth rooftop solar installation on a FedEx facility—six in the U.S. and three in Europe. FedEx has generated more than 20 GWh of solar electricity and reduced CO2 emissions by an estimated 6,989 metric tons since building its first installation in 2005.

Community & Disaster Relief

In 2012, FedEx continued its long-standing support for organizations focused on disaster relief, pedestrian and road safety, and environmental sustainability. Total charitable contributions across all FedEx giving areas, consisting of direct cash contributions, donated shipping and team member contributions, totaled $46 million. Additionally, more than 16,500 team members participated in a wide variety of community service projects throughout the year, helping FedEx make its local communities better places to live, work and play.

Each year, the company sets aside space and funding for up to four million pounds of disaster relief supplies and equipment for groups such as the American Red Cross, Direct Relief, Heart to Heart International and The Salvation Army throughout the year. Over the past ten years, FedEx has delivered approximately 50 million pounds of relief supplies to disaster victims around the world.

In times of disasters like Superstorm Sandy, FedEx is able to use its assets and expertise to move relief supplies quickly to communities in need. In the days and weeks following Superstorm Sandy in November 2012, FedEx donated $1.5 million and an additional four million pounds of disaster aid on behalf of these relief organizations. FedEx also shipped 23,000 meals and 17 polling stations in the wake of the storm.

In addition to the extensive resources of the FedEx global transportation network, the company works with the United Way to sponsor its annual companywide contribution campaign. As part of this program, FedEx offers team members in the U.S. the opportunity to participate in a payroll-deduction contribution campaign, which is currently in its 37th year. The United Way campaign kicks off with FedEx Cares Week, providing volunteer opportunities for team members around the world to share their time and talents with local, national and international organizations. This year's FedEx Cares Week program drew nearly 6,000 participants—a 36 percent increase in participation from the previous year—who donated 34,000 volunteer hours in 72 cities worldwide.

Separately, the annual Safe Kids Walk This Way events teaching child pedestrian safety rules drew more than one million student and community participants and nearly 1500 FedEx volunteers in 502 cities. In August 2012, Safe Kids and FedEx released a study: Walking Safely, A Report to the Nation, that examined 15 year trends in child pedestrian injuries and deaths in the U.S.

More information about the accomplishments highlighted here and additional stories about the FedEx commitment to responsible corporate citizenship may be found in the online version of the FedEx 2012 Global Citizenship Update at csr.fedex.com.

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $44 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 300,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.

— WebWireID175109 —

IBERDROLA has entered into the Pact on Biodiversity promoted by the Fundación Biodiversidad, which is seconded to the Ministry of Agriculture, Foodstuffs and Environment, to show the company's commitment to environmental conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity.

By entering into this declaration, organised under the auspices of the Spanish Enterprise and Biodiversity Initiative (IEEB), IBERDROLA, the Fundación Biodiversidad and the other signatories intend to promote an economic development that is compatible with biodiversity conservation, thereby creating a strong framework for cooperation between major companies and the Administration so that they can work together to enhance and preserve Spain's natural capital.

The company therefore undertakes to continue to incorporate biodiversity into its corporate policy, identify new business strategies linked to conservation and continue to develop practices that are more efficient, sustainable and responsible in terms of conservation.

IBERDROLA will also work on disseminating its progress in this field in order to showcase previous experiences and encourage new initiatives, while also advising other groups that wish to invest in biodiversity conservation projects.

By entering into this Pact on Biodiversity, the company has ratified its firm commitment to sustainable development in general and to improving its environmental management with a view to promoting environmental conservation in particular.

In this regard, IBERDROLA already has a Biodiversity Policy in place, geared towards ensuring that the various levels in the Group's organisation gradually integrate analysis of effects and measures designed to safeguard biodiversity conservation when planning and implementing their initiatives.

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Your gestures also count to care biodiversity. Participate! (http://www.iberdrola.es/webibd/corporativa/iberdrola?IDPAG=ENWEBRESINDINIMEDCOP15B)

— WebWireID175098 —

• Cheyenne 3D land survey covering 1,689 km2 in Cheyenne and Kiowa Counties in Colorado in an area that produces from horizons in both the Mississippian and the Pennsylvanian petroleum systems. Acquisition of the survey is expected to commence during Q3 2013 with final data available to industry during Q2 2014.
• Francisco 3D is a 4,662 km2 multi-client 3D survey that has commenced in the Atwater Valley area of the central Gulf of Mexico. This is the first 3D survey in this frontier area of the Gulf of Mexico. TGS will perform broadband processing on the survey using its proprietary Clari-FiTM technology.
• After 14 years, TGS returns to Denmark to acquire a 7,000 km multi-client 2D survey. TGS will perform broadband processing on the survey using its proprietary Clari-FiTM technology. Data will be available for the industry prior to the Danish 7th round which is planned to be announced in late 2013.

All of the above mentioned surveys are supported by industry funding.

TGS will also announce three new partnerships:

• TGS has signed a three year agreement with BGP to jointly acquire, process and market 2D and 3D multi-client seismic data offshore Madagascar and East Africa. TGS will leverage respective strengths of the partnership to build a strong portfolio of new multi-client projects in this highly prospective region. The agreement includes an initial 2D multi-client 13,135 km seismic survey in west Morondava, offshore Madagascar. The newly acquired data will extend and infill the existing regional 2D multi-client data acquired by TGS in 2001 and 2005.
• TGS has signed a cooperation agreement with EMGS to develop joint multi-client projects in defined areas of NW Europe. With this agreement, TGS obtains access to 2D/3D controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) data to design and acquire new 3D seismic projects, while EMGS will be given access to TGS' 2D grid as the basis for planning new 3D CSEM projects.
• TGS has signed a letter of intent with Magseis establishing an exclusive multi-client partnership using new Ocean Bottom Seismic technology. Joint projects are currently being planned with promising customer feedback.

In addition TGS will announce its intention to implement a sponsored American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program later in Q2 2013 subject to completion of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. TGS reaffirms its full year 2013 guidance.

To access TGS Capital Markets Day information, click on the links below:

TGS 2013 Capital Markets Day Webcast: http://www1.axisto.co.uk/webcasting/investis/tgs/capital-markets-day-2013/?__hstc=112058779.b221c4d89576f09cd33477dfa416e0cb.1369290497852.1369290497852.1369290497852.1&__hssc=112058779.1.1369290497853
TGS 2013 Capital Markets Day Presentation Slides: http://www.tgs.com/uploadedFiles/TGS%20CMD%202013%20Presentation%20FINAL.pdf

TGS provides multi-client geoscience data to oil and gas Exploration and Production companies worldwide. In addition to extensive global geophysical and geological data libraries that include multi-client seismic data, magnetic and gravity data, digital well logs, production data and directional surveys, TGS also offers advanced processing and imaging services, interpretation products, permanent reservoir monitoring and data integration solutions.

All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These factors include TGS' reliance on a cyclical industry and principal customers, TGS' ability to continue to expand markets for licensing of data, and TGS' ability to acquire and process data product at costs commensurate with profitability. Actual results may differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. TGS undertakes no responsibility or obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements for any reason.

TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSLO:TGS).

— WebWireID175074 —

Essen,- -The first of a total of 160 wind turbines was successfully installed at the offshore wind farm Gwynt y Môr (Welsh for 'wind of the sea'). The wind turbine from Siemens was installed on a monopile foundation approximately twelve kilometres off the coast of North Wales. The installation of each wind turbine comprising two tower segments, a nacelle, a hub and three blades will take around 24 hours, under favourable weather conditions. The base port for the installation of the wind turbines is the Port of Mostyn in the Welsh county of Flintshire. From here, the installation vessel transports three complete system sets to the construction site at sea. Each of the 3.6MW systems weighs over 430 tons. Mostyn will also be the port of operation for Gwynt y Môr after completion of the wind farm. From here, RWE already controls the operation of the two nearby wind farms Rhyl Flats (90MW) and North Hoyle (60MW).

Paul Cowling, Director of Offshore Wind at RWE Innogy: 'We are making excellent progress with the construction of Gwynt y Môr Wind Farm. In the past few months we have installed more than half of the foundations, two substations and buried two of the four export cables. Now, the next and crucial phase is beginning: the installation of the actual wind turbines. We plan to have all 160 wind turbines installed and connected to the grid in 2014. With a total output of 576 megawatts, we are currently building one of Europe's largest offshore wind farms.'

Gwynt y Môr wind farm is a joint venture of RWE Innogy (60 percent), Munich municipal utilities (30 percent) and Siemens (10 percent). Altogether the three companies are investing around two billion euros. After completion, Gwynt y Môr wind farm will generate power for up to 400,000 households in Great Britain.

Gwynt y Môr wind farm is being built over an area of around 80 square kilometres approximately 12 kilometres off the coast of North Wales. The water depth in the construction site is 12 to 28 metres. There are currently five large installation vessels and many additional smaller vessels working on site. In parallel with the installation of the foundations and turbines, the cables between the turbines and to the shore are being laid. The power generated by the wind turbines will initially be routed through the two substations at sea and from there fed via export cable to the feed point on land near Pensarn. From here, the power will travel via eleven kilometres of underground land cables to the substation near St Asaph, where it will be fed into the National Grid. First Power production is scheduled to begin this summer.

RWE is pushing ahead the extension of renewable energy across Europe with a strong focus on onshore and offshore wind. The company currently operates wind farms with an output of around 2,200 megawatts throughout Europe. At present, RWE Innogy is expanding offshore wind energy in Germany, Great Britain and Belgium. Some 680 megawatts are currently under construction. In addition to Gwynt y Môr, this also includes the Nordsee Ost project in the German North Sea off Helgoland which is also planned to go into operation in 2014.

— WebWireID175044 —

The Reference Share price is used for calculating a Participating Shareholder's entitlement under the Scrip Dividend Programme, as defined below.

Reference share price (US$): 33.944 - Q1 2013

The Reference Share Price is the US dollar equivalent of the average of the closing price for the Company's A Shares listed on Euronext Amsterdam for the five dealing days commencing on (and including) the date on which the Shares are first quoted ex-dividend in respect of the relevant dividend.

The Reference Share Price is calculated by reference to the Euronext Amsterdam closing price in euro. The US dollar equivalent of the closing price on each of the dealing days referred to above is calculated using a market currency exchange rate prevailing at the time.

Reference ADS Price

ADS stands for 'American Depositary Share'. ADR stands for 'American Depositary Receipt'. An ADR is a certificate that evidences ADSs (though the terms ADR and ADS are often used interchangeably). ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbols RDS.A and RDS.B. Each ADS represents two ordinary shares, two ordinary A Shares in the case of RDS.A or two ordinary B Shares in the case of RDS.B.

Reference ADS price (US$): 67.888 - Q1 2013

The Reference ADS Price equals the Reference Share Price of the two A Shares underlying each new A ADS. A recent court ruling has established that Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT) is not due on the issue of shares to a US depositary. Therefore, the Reference ADS price no longer includes an adjustment for the deduction of SDRT (or the Dutch withholding tax associated with the payment of SDRT). Given these changes, there is no longer a need to have an Alternative Reference ADS Price. The Reference ADS Price will instead apply to all A ADSs and B ADSs.

Royal Dutch Shell plc is currently exploring together with the Depository how ADS holders might reclaim SDRT amounts deducted on previous issues under the Scrip Dividend Programme. Details will be made available as soon as possible on the dividend section of the Royal Dutch Shell plc website: www.shell.com/dividend.
Scrip dividend programme

RDS provides shareholders with a choice to receive dividends in cash or in shares via a Scrip Dividend Programme.

Under the Programme shareholders can increase their shareholding in RDS by choosing to receive new shares instead of cash dividends if declared by RDS. Only new A Shares will be issued under the Programme, including to shareholders who currently hold B Shares.

Joining the Programme may offer a tax advantage in some countries compared with receiving cash dividends. In particular, dividends paid out as shares will not be subject to Dutch dividend withholding tax (currently 15 per cent) and will not generally be taxed on receipt by a UK shareholder or a Dutch corporate shareholder.

Shareholders who elect to join the Programme will increase the number of shares held in RDS without having to buy existing shares in the market, thereby avoiding associated dealing costs.

Shareholders who do not join the Programme will continue to receive in cash any dividends declared by RDS.

Shareholders who held only B shares and joined the Scrip Dividend Programme are reminded they will need to make a Scrip Dividend Election in respect of their new A shares if they wish to join the Programme in respect of such new shares. However, this is only necessary if the shareholder has not previously made a Scrip Dividend Election in respect of any new A shares issued.

For further information on the Programme, including how to join if you are eligible, please refer to the appropriate publication available on www.shell.com/scrip.

— WebWireID175041 —

Meeting in Brussels, the day before the European Council focused on energy and tax fraud on 22 May 2013, the CEOs of eight European energy companies have drawn to the attention of EU leaders the urgent need to tackle the perilous situation facing the European energy sector.

CEOs of eight European energy companies (Fulvio CONTI, Gertjan LANKHORST, Gérard MESTRALLET, Ignacio GALAN, Paolo SCARONI, Peter TERIUM, Johannes TEYSSEN, Rafael VILLASECA MARCOą) have drawn to the attention of EU leaders the urgent need to tackle the perilous situation facing the European energy sector.

Meeting in Brussels, the day before the European Council focused on energy and tax fraud on 22 May 2013, these eight energy companies agreed on a joint statement to underline the seriousness of the current challenges facing the sector and to propose appropriate policy actions. Indeed the current lack of visibility on energy policies and regulatory uncertainty will inevitably lead to an absence of energy investments with negative effects on security of supply, employment and reactivation of the European economy. The status quo is simply not an option.

The signatories remain committed to the EU's ambition for an energy policy based on the principles of competitiveness, security of supply and sustainable development, and they also fully adhere to the need for liberalization of energy markets. We see each of these elements as preconditions for competitive energy for industrial customers and citizens. However, the reality that each of the respective energy companies has experienced, over recent years, is that EU and some national energy policies have not delivered the full expected benefits. In concrete terms, European energy companies are the subject of a perfect storm which is endangering security of supply and the transformation towards a low-carbon economy, as well as undermining their capacity to attract capital.

It is, however, not too late for a revitalized EU approach to ensure competitive energy prices and a secure supply of energy for European citizens. Concurrently, this action would serve to restore the confidence of energy companies in the attractiveness of a European energy market. It is absolutely crucial that this revamped EU approach continues to support the fight against climate change, in addition to encompassing the following fresh elements:

-An improved market design, including a European coordinated approach to capacity mechanisms in which all assets contributing to the security of supply of European customers are fairly remunerated.
-A European carbon market able to support climate-friendly technologies and in which a reliable perspective is provided, notably, by establishing ambitious but realistic and stable post-2020 greenhouse gas emissions targets.
-A more sustainable approach to the promotion of renewables so as to reduce costs for citizens and favour greater convergence between Member States.
-A strengthening of the policy framework to triggerinvestments in promising technologies, such as energy storage, new renewables, carbon capture and storage, smart grids and meters and shale gas.

The CEOs of the eight energy companies very much look forward to EU political leaders taking stock of the critical situation the energy sector is facing. They must also define a new policy direction based on the elements included in the joint statement which are centred on the contribution that investments in the energy sector make, not only in providing a secure and efficient product, but also through creating jobs and reactivating the economy in an efficient way.

ąRepresenting the following energy companies: ENEL, GASTERRA, GDF SUEZ, IBERDROLA, ENI, RWE, E.ON, GASNATURAL FENOSA.

— WebWireID175039 —

Springfield, N.J. Leveraging its market leading international experience, Gehrlicher Solar announced the company's expansion into Mexico.

Based in Mexico City, the company will work closely with local developers, commercial customers, government agencies and the local utility, the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (Federal Electricity Commission) to engineer, procure and construct high performance PV systems specifically for the Mexican market. In addition, Gehrlicher Solar Mexico has the ability to work and assist its developer partners to reduce upfront investment, mitigate risk and shorten project timelines.

'After a rapid and successful entry into the US marketplace in the last two years, we are confident our high performance and low cost EPC business model will add significant value to our business partners in the Mexican market. We look forward to supporting Mexico's solar energy program via our heritage and international experience.' said Stefan Parhofer, Chief Executive Officer for Gehrlicher Solar America Corp.

Supporting the launch into the Mexico market, Gehrlicher Solar America Corp. will participate as a silver sponsor in Mexico's leading renewable energy event, the 2nd Mexican International Renewable Energy Congress (MIREC) to be held on May 29th at the Camino Real Polanco Hotel in Mexico City.
Jesse Jones, Gehrlicher Vice-president of Finance and Development, will speak during conference on 'Maximizing Mexican Potential: Lessons from Emerging Markets' on the subject of how to make the most of the Mexican solar energy potential and contribute to reach Mexico's renewable generation target of 20% by 2016 and 35% by 2035.

— WebWireID175037 —

PARIS— —GE's Power Conversion business (NYSE: GE) has signed a contract with Deutsche Bahn – DB Energie GmbH to supply a conversion station at its Lohsa substation. The new station will use an advanced transformer-less solution on the railway side, together with direct feed to the catenary (overhead lines) from three static frequency converters. GE's solution will help provide DB Energie with higher conversion efficiency at a lower cost.

'To keep trains running on time, the rail system requires a reliable supply of energy. GE's converter technology supports our focus to provide efficiency and reliability to our customers,' says Peter Treige, head of Power System Planning at DB Energie. 'GE has a proven track record of designing and developing system inverter plants capable of converting the energy from a public grid to a level required for the railway-operated grid. We have worked with GE on projects connected to the DB system in Lehrte, Aschaffenburg, Cologne and Mannheim, and the project at Lohsa will see our relationship break new ground as we use existing technology in a new way.'

The new project at Lohsa will directly feed into the 15 kV catenary or overhead lines from GE's three static frequency converters (SFC), together with a transformer-less solution on the railway side. Here GE provides a decentral converter station in Germany. This project is a necessary step for the merging of the railway connection between Poland and Germany within the EU. GE provides for DB Energy central converter stations as well as decentral solutions.

Central converter stations feed into the central network 110 kV/16.7 Hz. The central grid also feeds the 15 kV overhead lines. Decentral converter stations feed directly into the 15 kV overhead lines and are necessary where the central network is not available.

DB Energie is the full service energy manager for Deutsche Bahn AG, Germany's largest power consumer, including about 20,000 km of electrical railway. Germany's electric rail system uses a frequency of 16.7 Hz, which must be converted for use from the public grid, which operates on a frequency of 50 Hz.

'What makes this project with DB Energie all the more exciting is the evolution of our technology to deliver a new application for our converter technology,' says Stephan Krämer, Power Generation business leader at GE's Power Conversion. 'It's satisfying to work with a customer over time, to see the benefits achieved together and to work on innovative solutions that continue to bring benefits, in this case to improve the overall efficiency and reliability of the Deutsche Bahn railway system.'

GE will supply three static frequency converters, transformers and cooling systems, along with engineering, development and training for the system. The company will work with Balfour Beatty Rail (BB Rail), which will be responsible for civil works, buildings, cabling, switchgear equipment and complete SCADA system. Construction on the station is expected to begin early 2014 and is scheduled to begin operation in 2015.

About GE Power Conversion

GE's Power Conversion business applies the science and systems of power conversion to help drive the electrification of the world's energy infrastructure by designing and delivering advanced motor, drive and control technologies that evolve today's industrial processes for a cleaner, more productive future. Serving specialized sectors such as energy, marine, oil and gas, renewables and industry, through customized solutions and advanced technologies, GE Power Conversion partners with customers to maximize efficiency. To learn more, please visit: www.gepowerconversion.com.

Follow GE's Power Conversion business on Twitter @GE_PowerConvers and on LinkedIn.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

Follow GE's Energy Management business on Twitter @GE_EnergyMgmt.

— WebWireID175034 —

Under the terms of the deal announced in August 2012, the assets include BP's Carson, California refinery and related logistics and marketing assets in the region. Since that time, BP and Tesoro have been providing information to regulatory authorities to enable the parties to gain approval to complete the transaction for proceeds of approximately $2.5 billion.

'With FTC clearance, we have taken a significant step closer to completion of this sale and to the strategic refocusing of our U.S. fuels portfolio,' said Iain Conn, chief executive of BP's global refining and marketing business. 'I am very proud of the team's work to achieve clearance of the sale and for consistently safe and high quality operations throughout the process. BP's future U.S. fuels business soon will be firmly rooted around three, highly sophisticated northern refineries, which are crude feedstock-advantaged, and tied to strong marketing businesses.'
About BP in the US
BP has invested more in the United States over the last five years than any other oil and gas company. With more than $55 billion in capital spending between 2008 and 2012, BP invests more in the U.S. than in any other country. The company is the nation's second largest producer of oil and gas, a major oil refiner and a leader in alternative energy sources. With 21,000 U.S. employees, BP supports nearly a quarter of a million domestic jobs through its business activities. For more information, visit www.bp.com

Note to editors

-The Carson Refinery is one of the largest on the U.S. West Coast, with a crude distillation capacity of 266,000 bpd. It became part of BP through the 2000 acquisition of ARCO. It employs over 1,100 staff and in total the divested business employs approximately 1,750 staff.
-The transaction includes the refinery and integrated terminals and pipelines, as well as marketing agreements with about 800 retail sites in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada.
-The refinery is located on 650 acres in Los Angeles County, near the Long Beach and Los Angeles Harbors. The refinery began operations in 1938. It processes crude oil from Alaska's North Slope, the Middle East and West Africa. Processing equipment includes the largest fluid catalytic cracker in California, two cokers and distillate hydrocracking.
-BP's 51 percent interest in a nominal 400 megawatt cogeneration facility located at the refinery is included in the sale.
-BP's Wilmington Coke Calciner located about five miles from the refinery is also part of the sale. The plant occupies about 17 acres. The plant employs approximately 40 people and produces 350,000 metric tons of calcinated coke per year.

-Logistics assets included in the sale include ownership of Berth 121 facility improvements and equipment, Marine Terminals 2 and 3 and the LA basin pipelines system that moves crude, products and intermediates to and from the refinery.
-Terminals included in the sale are Carson Crude, East Hynes, West Hynes, Hathaway, Carson Products, Colton, Vinvale and San Diego.
-BP is completing a number of major investments in its other US refineries, including a large investment program to transform its 413,000 bpd capacity Whiting, Ind., refinery to process heavy, sour crudes, expected to come on stream in the second half of this year; a recently-completed clean diesel upgrading project at its 234,000 bpd Cherry Point, Wash., refinery; and the recent start-up of a continuous catalytic reformer to the 160,000 bpd capacity Toledo, Ohio, refinery (a 50:50 joint venture with partner Husky Energy Inc.).
-BP will continue to maintain a number of business interests in California, including a large ARCO retail and logistics presence in the northern part of the state. BP will also continue the distribution and marketing of lubricants through its Castrol brand and remain active in the California natural gas and power sector. In addition, BP will also continue to support the development of renewable energy sources in California through its Global Biofuels Technology Center in San Diego, and the Energy Biosciences Institute at UC Berkeley.

— WebWireID174900 —

This is the first of several planned operations by WEC in the region. Working closely with local officials, producers, land owners, and state agencies, WEC has identified multiple production sites that will allow it to take advantage of the abundant resources being developed in the area.
 
This first project, The Whitetail Refinery, will begin immediately. The facility is expected to be operational by the last quarter of 2014. 

 'The rapid deployment of modern, cost efficient refining operations directly into the new production regions will positively impact the producers, consumers, and the investors in our projects.' – Dave Martinelli, CEO Worldwide Energy Consortium, Inc.

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DEARBORN, Mich. – The 2013 Ford Fusion Energi has earned the highest possible 'five-star' Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The five-star rating is the U.S. Government's highest-possible safety rating and is determined only after severe testing procedures as part of NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), which combines vehicle performance in frontal and side-impact crash tests and resistance to rollover.

The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid joins the Ford Fusion and the Ford Fusion Hybrid which already received five-star safety ratings. NHTSA has elected to test plug-in vehicles separately from vehicles powered by gasoline internal combustion engines as the market share of electrified vehicles is increasing. April marked Ford's best hybrid sales month ever with Ford's EV market share hitting an all-time high of 18 percent, up from 3 percent last April.

'The Fusion Energi combines the highest possible safety ratings from NHTSA and great fuel economy, two things we know customers are looking for in their vehicles,' said Steve Kenner, Global Director of the Ford Automotive Safety Office. 'Our strategy is to provide our customers with a range of powertrain options in our vehicles, while still leading in fuel economy in every segment that we compete.'

The Fusion Energi gets an EPA fuel economy rating of 108 MPGe, which is five MPGe better than the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid.

The NHTSA five-star rating for the Fusion Energi comes in addition to the 2013 Fusion being named a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in December. The Top Safety Pick + designation is the highest rating the organization has for vehicle safety.

The Fusion Energi also features the Personal Safety System™ with safety belt technologies and front impact airbags. The Personal Safety System™ is a network of components that work together to tailor the deployment of the front airbags during frontal collisions. Other driver assist technologies available on the Fusion Energi include:

• Lane Keeping Assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Rearview Camera
• Hill Start Assist
• Electronic Parking Break

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 175,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

— WebWireID174865 —

Markus Bachmeier, Head of Hydrogen Solutions at Linde said: 'With this event Linde shows that already today fuelling of hydrogen vehicles is not limited to pre-commercial passenger cars, busses and forklift trucks but is also feasible under the challenging requirements of an internationally renowned motorsport event.'

Together with clean drive technology experts Alset Global, headquartered in Graz, Austria, Aston Martin engineers have developed a hybrid hydrogen racing prototype, running on gasoline, CGH2 or a blend of both fuels. The hydrogen used at the Nürburgring 24 Hours Race will be sourced from Linde's pilot plant in Leuna, Germany, where it is manufactured from raw glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel manufacturing. Advanced to industrial scale, this production path has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 50 and 80 percent compared with conventional hydrogen production processes using natural gas. In addition, Linde is working together with partners to develop more renewable hydrogen production pathways such as water electrolysis using wind-generated electricity.

The flexible trailH2-gas™ fuelling concept means that hydrogen-powered cars can fill up at almost any location. Demand for trailH2-gas™ is high and it was successfully deployed, for example, at this year's HANNOVER MESSE. But Linde is also helping to advance a stationary hydrogen infrastructure to support the introduction and commercialisation of mass-produced hydrogen-powered cars in the coming years. Innovations such as the ionic compressor and the cryopump are already helping to make hydrogen refuelling ever more energy-efficient and user-friendly.
So far, Linde has supplied the fuelling equipment for more than 80 hydrogen stations in 15 countries. The company also participates in an initiative organised by the German Ministry of Transportation to increase the number of public hydrogen fuelling stations in Germany to 50 by 2015.

In addition, Linde is the largest constructor of hydrogen plants worldwide and has been producing hydrogen for the most varied of applications for more than 100 years. These include the desulphurisation of fuel in the petrochemical industry, which makes a valuable contribution to reducing carbon emissions from today's vehicles.

About The Linde Group

The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 62,000 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2012 financial year, Linde generated revenue of EUR 15.280 bn. The strategy of the Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

Under the 'Clean Technology by Linde' label, the company offers a wide range of products and technologies that help to render renewable energy sources financially viable, and significantly slow down the depletion of fossil resources or reduce the level of CO2 emitted. This ranges from specialty gases for solar module manufacturing, industrial-scale CO2 separation and application technologies to alternative fuels and energy carriers such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen.

For more information go to http://www.linde.com/cleantechnology.

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Located at the site of the existing Sempra Energy LNG terminal in Hackberry, the facility will have 3 liquefaction trains with a capacity of 12 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per annum and will be operated by Cameron LNG.

Under this joint venture agreement, GDF SUEZ, Mitsubishi and Mitsui will each acquire a 16.6% equity stake in the existing terminal and in the liquefaction project, with Sempra Energy retaining a 50.2% position.

Announced last year, GDF SUEZ has also signed with Sempra Energy a 20-year liquefaction service agreement. GDF SUEZ, Mitsubishi and Mitsui have subscribed the full capacity of the three-train facility. GDF SUEZ will thus have access to a capacity of 4 Mtpa of LNG, which will be exported to the Group's LNG markets.

Jean-Marie Dauger, Executive Vice President of GDF SUEZ in charge of the Global Gas & LNG Business Line declared : 'By joining the Cameron LNG project alongside strong and experienced partners, GDF SUEZ, a world leader in LNG, intends to make a decisive contribution to the emergence of a new source of LNG in the United States. The Cameron LNG project will serve to expand and diversify the Group's LNG portfolio and increase its flexibility for supplying existing or future markets in high growth areas. '

The tolling and joint venture agreements are subject to a final investment decision by each party, to final permit authorizations, and to securing financing commitments, all of which are expected by early 2014, along with customary conditions precedent. The new LNG plant is expected to start operations in late 2017. Last year, Cameron LNG obtained approval from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to export up to 12 Mtpa of domestically produced LNG to all current and future countries with which the United States has signed a Free Trade Agreement(1).

GDF SUEZ is one of the world's leading LNG players and Europe's largest LNG importer. Its LNG portfolio of 16 Mtpa, coming from six countries, is the third largest in the world. It operates a fleet of 17 LNG carriers and has a significant presence in regasification terminals throughout the world.

(1) Authorization to export LNG to countries with which the U.S. does not have a Free Trade Agreement was requested and is pending review by the DOE. To date, only one LNG project in the United States has obtained all US export authorizations.

About GDF SUEZ

GDF SUEZ develops its businesses (electricity, natural gas, services) around a model based on responsible growth to take up today's major energy and environmental challenges: meeting energy needs, ensuring the security of supply, fighting against climate change and maximizing the use of resources. The Group provides highly efficient and innovative solutions to individuals, cities and businesses by relying on diversified gas-supply sources, flexible and low-emission power generation as well as unique expertise in four key sectors: liquefied natural gas, energy efficiency services, independent power production and environmental services. GDF SUEZ employs 219,300 people worldwide and achieved revenues of €97 billion in 2012. The Group is listed on the Paris, Brussels and Luxembourg stock exchanges and is represented in the main international indices: CAC 40, BEL 20, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe, ASPI Eurozone, Vigeo World 120, Vigeo Europe 120 and Vigeo France 20.

— WebWireID174822 —

-Edison International to Present at the
Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Strategic Decisions Conference 2013

WHAT:

Edison International to present at the Sanford C. Bernstein & Co.
Strategic Decisions Conference 2013

WHO:

Ted Craver
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Edison International

WHEN:

Wednesday, May 29, 2013
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)

WEBCAST:

Edison International corporate web site: www.edisoninvestor.com
and select "Webcasts". Presentation available via live webcast as well as replay.

About Edison International
Edison International (NYSE:EIX), through its subsidiaries, is a generator and distributor of electric power and an investor in infrastructure and energy assets, including renewable energy. Headquartered in Rosemead, Calif., Edison International is the parent company of Southern California Edison, one of the nation's largest electric utilities.

— WebWireID174820 —

The plant is mainly fired with wood pellets and its heat output is around 33 MW. The plant has replaced some of the capacity of the oil- and gas-fired boiler plants and has thus helped substantially reduce the CO2 emissions from the production of district heat. The plant has been producing environmentally friendly energy in Tampere since December.

'The plant will help us to secure the competitiveness of district heat, lower CO2 emissions and improve our delivery reliability in the southern region of Tampere,' says Managing Director Antti-Jussi Halminen from Tampereen Energiantuotanto.

Metso's delivery comprised a complete turn-key boiler plant solution and Metso DNA automation system. The new plant operates unmanned with remote monitoring from the main control room of the Lielahti power plant. By using the reliable automation technology, the operators are able to flexibly control the district heat production process and quickly respond to changes. The technology used at the plant is based on the pellet fuel being pulverized in separate grinding mills and burned in a pulverized combustion boiler. The start-up and load control of the combustion process is remarkably high and the pulverized fuel allows for clean, energy efficient and flexible heat generation. Pulverized pellet combustion is new to Finland, but Metso has been using it in Sweden on a smaller scale.

'This was a major delivery for Metso, as it is the first reference using this technology for district heat generation on such a large scale. The Bioheat RampUp plant delivered by us enables the use of pellets and oil, simultaneously in any proportion or separately, in one and the same boiler, which is operated unmanned,' says Jussi Orhanen, Director, Heat & Power Plants, Power business line, Metso.

According to Orhanen, the solution is also an excellent option for industry presently using heavy fuel oil for generating process steam.

Tampereen Energiantuotanto Oy, a subsidiary of Tampere Power Utility, is responsible for the group's electricity and district heating production, maintenance and development. Increasing the proportion of renewable energy sources is part of Tampere Power Utility's strategy.

Metso's pulp, paper and power professionals specialize in processes, machinery, equipment, services, paper machine clothing and filter fabrics. Our offering and experience cover the entire process life cycle including new production lines, rebuilds and services.

www.metso.com/pulpandpaper, www.metso.com/power, www.twitter.com/MetsoPulpPaper

Metso is a global supplier of technology and services to customers in the process industries, including mining, construction, pulp and paper, power, and oil and gas. Our 30,000 professionals based in over 50 countries contribute to sustainability and deliver profitability to customers worldwide. Metso's shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.

www.metso.com, www.twitter.com/metsogroup

— WebWireID174816 —

Many South American countries are upgrading their social infrastructure and planning to promote development of smart grids. This is particularly true in Brazil, host to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Under its Growth Acceleration Program, the Brazilian government plans to invest in the areas of logistics, energy and social development. Against this background of economic and population growth, demand for electricity in South America is expected to rise and the market for power transformer is forecast to expand from about US$210.0 billion in 2012 to US$250.0 billion in 2015.

TIC-SA currently undertakes manufacture and sale of power transformers at its plant in Contagem, Minas Gerais. That facility has an annual capacity equivalent to amount 15GVA, and its output goes to the Brazilian market and the Americas. Construction of the new plant to meet growing demand began in May 2011, some 25km west of Contagem city. The site is 146,000m2 and the building has a floor area of 22,710m2. The investment in plant and equipment to this point is approximately 6.0 billion yen.

TIC-SA has put in place a production framework covering both plants. The Contagem site will produce small-capacity transformers, while the Betim site will manufacture medium- to large-capacity transformers. This expanded production base will support TIC-SA in proactively promoting its social infrastructure businesses throughout the region.

Overview of the new plant

Location: Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Site area: 146,000m2
Floor area: 22,710m2
Products: Medium- and large-capacity power transformers
Construction: Started in May 2011, completed in May 2013

Overview of Toshiba Infrastructure South America Ltd (TIC SA)

Representative: Luis Carlos Borba
Capital: R$220 million (approx. US$109 million)
Established: April 1, 2011, through the merger of Toshiba Transmission and Distribution Brazil Ltd. and Toshiba Transmission and Distribution Systems Brazil Ltd.
Location: Contagem, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Employees: About 6,000
Business: Overall Social infrastructure systems business, including power transmission and distribution, power systems, transportation systems, motors and inverters

-----
Information in the press releases, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the press announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice.

— WebWireID174809 —

Highlights are as follows:

-Deepwater Millennium - Awarded a two-year contract for work offshore Australia at a dayrate of $605,000 ($442 million estimated contract backlog). The rig's prior dayrate was $545,000.

-Estimated 2013 out-of-service time increased by a net 117 days, including 89 days due to shipyard acceleration into 2013 from 2014 and contract preparation on the Deepwater Millennium.

-Transocean John Shaw - Awarded a one-year contract extension for work in the U.K. sector of the North Sea at a dayrate of $415,000 ($151 million estimated contract backlog). The rig's prior dayrate was $360,000.

-Jack Bates - Awarded a three-well contract for work offshore Australia at a dayrate of $525,000 ($47 million contract backlog). The rig's prior dayrate was $380,000.

-Falcon 100 is currently idle.

The report can be accessed at www.deepwater.com by clicking on the Fleet Status Report link found in the toolbar.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements described in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements which could be made include, but are not limited to, estimated duration of customer contracts, contract dayrate amounts, future contract commencement dates and locations, planned shipyard projects and other out of service time, and sales of drilling units. These include but are not limited to operating hazards and delays, risks associated with international operations, actions by customers and other third parties, the future prices of oil and gas and other factors, including those discussed in the company's most recent Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and in the company's other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize (or the other consequences of such a development worsen), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the company or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations to the most comparative GAAP measure are displayed in quantitative schedules on the company's website at www.deepwater.com.

This press release or referenced documents does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of Transocean Ltd. and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of Transocean Ltd.

About Transocean

Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. The company specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on deepwater and harsh environment drilling services, and believes that it operates one of the most versatile offshore drilling fleets in the world.

Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in, and operates a fleet of, 83 mobile offshore drilling units consisting of 48 High-Specification Floaters (Ultra-Deepwater, Deepwater and Harsh-Environment drilling rigs), 25 Midwater Floaters and 10 High-Specification Jackups. In addition, we have six Ultra-Deepwater Drillships and two High-Specification Jackups under construction.

For more information about Transocean, please visit the website www.deepwater.com or www.transoceanvalue.com.

— WebWireID174766 —

Key geotechnical feasibility studies on the site of Wikinger offshore wind farm have been successfully concluded, with a total cost of €20 million.

The studies comprised a full geological survey of the seabed in an area of some 34 square kilometres. Also, stratigraphic samples of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks were drilled out and seismic surveys using sound waves to determine the structure of the terrain were carried out.

These works represent a key milestone to achieve project consents for construction works by the regulator Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH). The findings will be used to define dimensions and design of turbine foundations and will confirm the method of installation of the wind farm, including cabling and electrical substation.

Wikinger is a 400-megawatt (MW) wind farm in the Baltic Sea, some 35 kilometres off the coast of the German Island of Rügen. With an investment of €1.5 billion, the project will generate €650 million in local and regional taxes through a 20 year period and will create some 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. Once in operation, the wind farm will produce electricity equivalent to the consumption of more than 350,000 German households and would avoid the emission of almost 600,000 tons of CO2/year.

Development of the Wikinger offshore wind project is progressing quickly, with construction scheduled to begin in late 2015 and commissioning in early 2017, in order to qualify to the current feed-in-tariff system. To achieve this, in November 2012, a preferred turbine supplier agreement was signed between IBERDROLA and Areva Wind, with production centre in Bremerhaven.

IBERDROLA has already launched the tender process for the procurement and installation of foundations, inter-array cable and the main components of the wind farm substation, totaling some €900 million. Also, progress is being made on the port selection for pre-assembly and transportation of components and wind turbines to the site, and an announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

If everything goes according to plan, including grid connection being secured by 2016 or early 2017 and the applicable feed-in tariff being confirmed, final investment decision on the project will be made towards the end of 2013 and the first procurement contracts should be awarded in early 2014. In this respect, IBERDROLA welcomes investor reassurances expressed by senior German authorities about the need for long term stability of the regulatory framework. Nevertheless, grid connection availability, a stable tariff mechanism and an agile consenting process are essential to avoid unnecessary costs and risks and meet investors' expectations.

IBERDROLA's offshore wind project pipeline in Germany stands at over 2,000 MW. By the end of 2013, over €70 million will be invested in the development of Wikinger alone, and by 2019 the company could invest over €3 billion in offshore wind projects in the German Baltic Sea, to install 1,000 MW.

— WebWireID174764 —