SALE OF ENERGY GIANT SPARKS DOUBTS AND QUESTIONS

German energy giant RWE's takeover of Dutch provider Essent is causing concern among environmental groups. Some MPs are asking questions about the sale. Greenpeace spokesperson Meike Barretta told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that her organisation is not happy about the takeover: "RWE's record in terms of sustainability is deplorable. It is Europe's biggest producer of CO2 gas as a result of the huge quantities of coal and lignite they are burning. Only three percent of their energy production can be classified as 'clean', while Essent had reached 16 percent. It is illusory to expect RWE to follow Essent's example."

Essent's shareholders - six Dutch provinces and 140 municipalities - are generally satisfied with the planned takeover. Annemarie Moons, a member of the executive council in the province of North Brabant, said that the takeover will net the shareholders some 7.5 billion euros. Her province is planning to spend its share, 2.3 billion, on building new motorways and investing in sustainable energy and innovation. read more (radionetherlands.nl)

RWE STRENGTHENS POSITION IN EUROPEAN MARKET read more (nrc.nl)
ESSENT TAKEOVER 'INCLUDES NUCLEAR PLANT' read more (dutchnews.nl)IMPASSE OVER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT FUTURE read more (dutchnews.nl)
DELTA BLOCKS SALE OF NUCLEAR PLANT TO RWE read more (dutchnews.nl)
ESSENT TAKEOVER 'INCLUDES NUCLEAR PLANT' read more (dutchnews.nl)ENERGY FOR SALE read more (nrc.nl)
NUON HAS SHORT LIST FOR NEW SHAREHOLDER read more (dutchnews.nl)
ENI TIPPED TO TAKE OVER ENERGY FIRM NUON read more

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January 26, 2009