Arnhem, 21 January 2008 - Geneva based Essent Trading (the trading arm of Essent NV, the leading Dutch energy company) and China Datang Corporation (one of China’s top five power companies) have finalised an agreement in which Essent will purchase Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) from a 45MW wind project in Fujian province of China built by Datang. The project is the first Gold Standard CDM project to be approved in China.
Essent will purchase approximately 450,000 CERs over a period of five years from the start of 2008 from the project, which was approved by the UNFCCC on the 20th January 2008.

Nyame de Groot, Vice President Emissions of Essent Trading: ‘As a market leader in renewable and sustainable energy generation in The Netherlands and Europe we are very happy to support initiatives that contribute directly to the development of renewable energy and the reduction of green house gas emissions.’

Dr. Tang Renhu, head of the CDM business of China Datang Corporation, comments, ‘We are proud to have taken the lead in engaging in Gold Standard CDM project development.

With the success of having the project approved as China’s first Gold Standard CDM project, we expect to add more projects with high environmental integrity into our large portfolio of renewables. ’

Michael Schlup, Director of the Gold Standard, remarked, ‘The Fujian Wind Farm demonstrates that it is possible to respond to China’s growing demand for energy in a sustainable, environmentally conscious way that also benefits the local community. As the first Gold Standard project in China, Essent Trading, Datang Corporation and TFS are
leading the creation of a credible and rigorous carbon market in fast emerging economies.’

The transaction was brokered by TFS Energy, the leading CER broker in China and South-East Asia. TFS has offices across the world, including Beijing, and is an active promoter of the Gold Standard.

‘We are excited to have brought together two such progressive market leaders as Essent and Datang under this contract. We hope it will encourage others to follow their lead in taking proactive steps towards securing credits under the Gold Standard, which have the highest level of environmental credibility.’ Lucy Mortimer, Global Manager of TFS’s CDM & JI Business.

The Gold Standard is a quality label for CDM (Clean Development Mechanism), JI (Joint Implementation) and voluntary offset projects generating renewable energy, and energy efficiency projects, all with high sustainable development benefits. The Gold Standard is endorsed by over 52 non-governmental organizations worldwide, and Gold Standard projects are preferred by a rangeof government and private buyers. Initiated by WWF, SSN and Helio International the Gold Standard for CDM projects was launched in 2003, and is endorsed by over 52 non-governmental organizations worldwide.