Wind Prospect-CanundaConstruction

CANUNDA WIND FARM SET FOR CONSTRUCTION
17 March 2004

After almost 5 years of development by Wind Prospect Pty Ltd, the Canunda Wind Farm located at Lake Bonney near Millicent in the south-east of South Australia has moved into its construction phase with International Power announcing it will construct, own and operate the $92.5 million project.

Michael Vawser, Wind Prospect's General Manager, said:

"The Canunda Wind Farm reflects our company's strong commitment to the benefits of renewable energy and we are proud to have been able to bring this project to realisation and look forward to continuing our relationship with International Power" .

"The development has been the focus of the Wind Prospect team for the past 18 months and it is extremely rewarding for us to see all of our hard work reach this important milestone. It also demonstrates why we are a world leader in independent wind farm development, and why we have just received the Developer's Developer Award in the UK."

Wind Prospect, the McLaren Vale based wind energy developer, has more megawatts of wind farm projects in advanced stages of planning and construction than any other company on mainland Australia. The company has received planning approval for 380 MW and has a further 320MW at the planning submission stage.

The wind farm will consist of 23 Vestas 2.0MW wind turbines, together with an underground electrical cable network, access tracks, crane hardstandings, wind monitoring masts, a 33kV double-circuit distribution line, small switchgear buildings and appropriate site signs.

The fabrication of the project's components will commence in the second quarter of 2004 with site construction commencing in the third quarter 2004, and is scheduled for completion in the last quarter of 2004. The complete facility will be in commercial operation early in 2005.

Ends

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Notes For Editors

1. Wind Prospect Pty Ltd is a consortium company that includes Wind Prospect Ltd based in the U.K and Australian interests. Both individually and collectively, these companies are among the largest and most experienced wind energy developers in the industry today.

2. Wind Prospect Ltd's success in development, construction and operations has been based on over a decade of experience, flexibility and a pioneering spirit.

In 2002 Wind Prospect Ltd project managed the construction of 60% of the wind farms commissioned in the UK and in 2003 were awarded the BWEA Developer's Developer Award following the planning success for over 150MW, both onshore and offshore in the UK.

At present Wind Prospect Ltd operate nearly 50 turbines. With involvement in over 850MW of approved projects in UK, Ireland and Australia, they are now also looking to expand into wave energy development in the UK.

3. The legislation for a 2% Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (where all suppliers and large consumers of electricity must source 2% of their electricity from new renewable energy generators by the year 2010) was reviewed during 2003, and a report was released to the federal government in September 2003. By the end of April 2004 the industry should know whether the targets will be raised, extended beyond 2020, or remain static.

4. The local manufacture of wind turbine components, and hence the creation of significant numbers of employment opportunities, is principally dependent upon the federal government substantially increasing the existing MRET provisions.

For further information please contact:

Michael Vawser
General Manager
Wind Prospect Pty Ltd
144 Main Road
McLaren Vale
South Australia 5171
t: +61 (8) 8323 9322
f: +61 (8) 8323 8111
e: admin@windprospect.com.au

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	Wind Prospect Pty Ltd, 144 Main Road, McLaren Vale, South Australia 5171 t: +61 (0)8 832 39322 f: +61 (0)8 832 38111 e: admin@windprospect.com.au