EcoSecurities Group plc ("EcoSecurities", or the "Group"), one of
the world's leading companies in the business of originating,
implementing and commercialising carbon credits from greenhouse gas
emission reduction projects, will hold its Annual General Meeting in
Dublin, Ireland today at 2 pm. At the meeting Mark Nicholls, Chairman,
will make the following statement:
"EcoSecurities' first full year of trading in 2006 as a public
company proved successful. The Group achieved many significant
milestones with regard to the origination, implementation and
commercialisation of Certified Emission Reductions ("CERs"). Progress
has been maintained in 2007. The Group continues to execute its CDM
strategy, as well as capture new carbon market opportunities closely
aligned with the core business.
A number of milestones have been achieved to date in 2007 which
include:
-- CDM project origination has progressed steadily with the gross
contract volume of the Group's projects increasing to 178
million CERs at present - an increase of 14% since year end
2006. In line with the Group's policy of continually assessing
the projects within the portfolio for expected CER generation,
this total takes into account volume adjustments. As projects
progress through the CDM implementation cycle and become
operational, EcoSecurities' confidence in project volumes and
individual project performance becomes more certain.
-- On a net entitlement basis the CER portfolio has grown by 23%
to 156 million tonnes since year end, reflecting the Group's
focus on principal projects and the purchase of CERs from
projects where the Group previously had a shared interest.
-- With many governments indicating their long term commitment to
emission reduction schemes, e.g. the EU's commitment to the
ETS post-2012, Canada's recent commitment to emissions
reductions by 2020, California's post-2012 legislation and
current global debate surrounding Kyoto's second commitment
period; the Group is confident that a market regime for
post-2012 carbon credits will evolve and that it is well
placed to benefit.
-- As the potential market for carbon credits post-2012 develops,
the Group has continued to expand its portfolio of carbon
credits for delivery after the initial Kyoto commitment
period. Out of its existing portfolio of projects the Group
has already secured the rights to 86 million tonnes of carbon
credits for the period from 2013 to 2028. Furthermore, project
opportunities that extend beyond 2012 are now being pursued
more aggressively.
-- In order to continue expansion of the Company's origination,
implementation, commercialisation and consulting efforts, the
Group has established 4 new offices in Dubai, Kiev, Rome and
Tokyo this year.
-- The CDM project portfolio remains highly diversified by
geography, technology and CDM methodology, with a total of 426
projects, up from 353 at year end. The projects are located in
36 countries and encompass 18 different technologies. Project
diversification, as well as our track record in project
implementation, significantly enhances our ability to generate
consistent production of CERs from our growing project
portfolio.
-- CDM project implementation continues to progress. Of the 426
projects in the portfolio, 336 are now financed, 104 are under
construction and 146 are operational. At present, 66 projects
have been registered with the CDM Executive Board, up from 53
at year end. These results were achieved in spite of the fact
that the external process of CDM project validation, host
country approval and CDM EB registration has been difficult
over the past year and continues to be challenging.
-- Demand for CERs from corporate and government buyers with
2008-2012 Kyoto compliance obligations continues to grow. To
date the Group has pre-sold EUR 400 million of CERs to
predominantly large corporate and government buyers which
represents a steady stream of revenues for the Group from 2008
through to 2012. The expected Net Trading Margin on current
forward CER sales of 33 million tonnes now totals EUR 177
million.
-- Recently, CER prices have been increasing in line with demand
in Japan and the EU. Substantially tighter National Allocation
Plans proposed for Phase II of the EU ETS have contributed to
this positive trend.
-- Due to the increasing issuance of CERs from projects around
the world, EcoSecurities is well positioned to participate as
a principal in the secondary trading of CERs from project
developers. This year the Group has already acquired 1 million
CERs in this manner.
-- With increasing corporate and individual awareness regarding
climate change, the emergence of voluntary carbon markets in
the US and internationally is a major development. The Group
has begun to expand into these markets as a supplier of
high-quality Voluntary Emissions Reductions ("VERs") and has
completed its first sales. The Group has a growing portfolio
of VERs, and will continue to build upon its strategy to be a
wholesale supplier of the highest standard VERs in this
market. EcoSecurities is working within the initiative of the
International Emissions Trading Association, the World
Economic Forum and the Climate Group to develop a Voluntary
Carbon Standard for VER projects, which will allow for greater
standardization in this market segment. In the US
particularly, the Group has experienced a rapid increase in
demand for VERs to meet both voluntary and pre-compliance
needs (the latter based on the assumption that US climate
change legislation will be enacted in the foreseeable future).
EcoSecurities' target for the rest of the year is to maintain its
core focus on originating, implementing and commercialising its highly
diversified portfolio of emissions reductions projects. Furthermore,
the Group sees a number of opportunities in closely aligned markets
for VERs, issued CERs and CDM project investments as well as building
its project portfolio beyond 2012."
+ Note: Gross and net contract volume measure expected CER
production, as at 24 May 2007, from projects through to the end of
2012 and do not adjust for operating or regulatory risk. Gross and net
contract volume exclude projects where the probability of either the
development of a relevant methodology or the underlying development of
the project is still highly uncertain.
CDM = Clean Development Mechanism, the provision of the Kyoto
Protocol that governs project level carbon credit transactions between
developed and developing countries.
CER = Certified Emission Reduction, carbon credits created by
Clean Development Mechanism projects. One CER corresponds to 1 tonne
of CO2e emission reductions.
EU ETS = European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, a market based
"cap and trade" system for green house gases adopted by the European
Union member states.
Net Trading Margin = The resulting gross profit on the sale of
CERs less the direct purchase cost.
VER = Voluntary or Verified Emission Reduction, carbon credits
created by emission reduction projects. One VER corresponds to 1 tonne
of CO2e emission reductions.
About EcoSecurities:
EcoSecurities is one of the world's leading companies in the
business of originating, developing and trading carbon credits.
EcoSecurities structures and guides greenhouse gas emission reduction
projects through the Kyoto Protocol, acting as principal intermediary
between the projects and the buyers of carbon credits.
EcoSecurities works with companies in developing and
industrialising countries to create carbon credits from projects that
reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. EcoSecurities has experience
with projects in the areas of renewable energy, agriculture and urban
waste management, industrial efficiency, and forestry. With a network
of offices and representatives in 25 countries on five continents,
EcoSecurities has amassed one of the industry's largest and most
diversified portfolios of carbon projects. Today, the Group is working
on 426 projects in 36 countries using 18 different technologies
(encompassing 29 approved CDM methodologies), with the potential to
generate more than 178 million carbon credits.
EcoSecurities also works with companies in the developed world to
assist them in meeting their greenhouse gas emission compliance
targets. Utilising its highly diversified carbon credit portfolio,
EcoSecurities is able to structure carbon credit transactions to fit
compliance buyer's needs, and has executed transactions with both
private and public sector buyers in Europe, North America and Japan.
Working at the forefront of carbon market development,
EcoSecurities has been involved in the development of many of the
global carbon market's most important milestones, including developing
the world's first CDM project to be registered under the Kyoto
Protocol. EcoSecurities' consultancy division has been at the
forefront of significant policy and scientific developments in this
field. EcoSecurities Consult has been recognised as the world's
leading greenhouse gas advisory firm over the last five years by
reader surveys conducted by Environmental Finance Magazine.
EcoSecurities Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM
(ticker ECO). Additional information is available at
www.ecosecurities.com.
