15 Apr 2007

Marubeni Acquires Wood Chip Biomass Power Plant in US

Marubeni Acquires Wood Chip Biomass Power Plant in US
Tokyo, Japan, Apr 12, 2007 - (JCN Newswire) - Marubeni today announced that through DG Investors, LLC (100% subsidiary of Marubeni) it has purchased 16MW wood chip biomass power plant located in Whitefield, NH from Whitefield Power & Light Company. By this acquisition, the electric generating capacity of biomass power plants owned by Marubeni has become approx. 34 megawatts (MW).

At Whitefield power plant, one of the most advanced emission control systems, Regenerative Selective Catalytic Reduction (RSCR) unit, was installed in 2004 to ensure long-term, continuous reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 70% annually. In US, RPS legislation is put in effect in 24 states to promote renewable energy. Organic materials such as wood waste and forest residue are gathered and burned in boilers for biomass power generation. This renewable energy process is environmentally friendly to reduce greenhouse gases, producing fewer emissions per unit of fuel burned than produced if the materials were incinerated or left to burn or decay in the forest.

Marubeni already owns and operates a 18MW wood chip biomass power plant located in Fairhaven, CA. Marubeni believes its experience and expertise in biomass power generation enables it to achieve the operation with high efficiency.
Marubeni aims to increase its renewable energy portfolio and expand energy supply business with distributed generation facilities to more than 120 MW in North America by 2010.

About Marubeni

Marubeni Corporation (TSE: 8002) was established in 1858, and is a core company of Marubeni Group, one of Japan's leading general trading houses. Operations encompass domestic import, export and offshore trade. Activities range from the development of natural resources to the retailed marketing of finished products. For the past several years, the Marubeni Group has been establishing and enhancing its worldwide information and communication business. The Marubeni Group focuses on creating "value chain" from upstream to downstream, encompassing a wide variety of business fields, including oil & gas, metals, mineral resources, foods, pulp & paper and chemicals, among others. For more information, please visit www.marubeni.com.