Active Energy Share Discussion Threads

[marab] 13/5/2015 11:09

Obviously have to wait for the video of today's presentation but page 19 of the slides from cottoners link suggests the possibility of 10 small 20MW power stations.

[marab] 13/5/2015 11:00

Many thanks cottoner.

Keep an eye on ISDX, quite a few trades have gone through there today already (290,000).

[cottoner] 13/5/2015 10:35

Ukraine slide-show presentation now on site

[marab] 13/5/2015 09:11

I did wonder why Ron bought at this particular time but I am guessing he is a lot more optimistic with the new government in place. Any other reason might be seen as insider trading and I doubt if he would be stupid enough to do that.

From bukowski on the LSE board
‘Just checked the conference agenda, and the Energy Independent Ukraine session starts at 12:05 Ukraine time (so 10:05 UK time). Mr Spinks is both moderator and keynote speaker. And have had it confirmed that a copy of his presentation will be available on or around that time on the AEG website at www.active-energy.com. I for one can't wait to see it... very excited at this latest AEG initiative!’

[marab] 12/5/2015 20:34

Mikkydhu I agree with you that RS would not be making that presentation if he had not already talked to the Ukraine government. Embarrassing a government into doing something is never a good strategy.

I am sure a few will be looking at the transfer of the bio-mass contract as a loss to the company but it is anything but. By finding a replacement supplier he can walk away with reputation intact. He appears to be one of a select few on AIM who appreciate the value of keeping promises.

Cottoner thanks for posting the ad from the Edmonton Journal. It was nicely worded and very public which should make KAQUO hard to ignore.

I an guessing that 500,000 at 7.15p was a sell unless someone has a different theory.

[cottoner] 12/5/2015 18:12

KAQUO/AEG message to new Alberta Government

11/5/15

[mikkydhu] 12/5/2015 16:52

marab,

Yes, maybe new appointments. I doubt if he would be making such a bold proposal so publicly in Ukraine unless it were virtually a done deal.

Incidentally, glad to see him curtailing a project that was not delivering, and not just walking away from it but finding a company to complete the deal. I think he must be a very good negotiator.

[mikkydhu] 12/5/2015 16:47

Just so, marab: mustn't underrate the man!

[marab] 12/5/2015 16:46

mikkydhu - a Polish project wouldn't surprise me either but RS must be spreading himself very thin these days to cover everything. I wonder if we will see new director appointments if the presentation bears fruit with the Ukranian government.

[marab] 12/5/2015 16:29

mikkydhu - I wouldn't be terribly keen on Chinese partners either but I can see the Russia / Crimea /Ukraine thing dragging on for a long time yet. While Russia might be happy to wind up Europe they might be less keen on doing the same to China, thus the thought of Chinese partners.

If you haven't talked to RS in the last few days he could now be fluent in Mandarin ;-) You have to wonder how many hours a week that man works. He must be having the time of his life with so much potential up for grabs.

[mikkydhu] 12/5/2015 16:28

Since Poland shares a border with Ukraine, and since, I believe, it has forests in its southern parts, and since Richard speaks Polish...well, I would not be surprised to hear of him embarking on a Polish project.

[mikkydhu] 12/5/2015 16:19

marab, I know Richard is fluent in Ukranian, Russian and Polish, but Chinese?!

I would be nervous of any partnership with the Chinese, especially if you don't know their language. I'm sure part of Richard's success is his linguistic ability. It must not only ensure that people feel that he identifies with them, but must also enable him to operate with complete confidence and avoid being tripped up through some misunderstanding or disadvantageous clause.

[marab] 12/5/2015 16:11

mikkydhu - or quarter the size of Wales. Be a great deal if it came off. AEG have said in the past that they have a good working relationship with the state owned forestry department so that shouldn't be a problem. Will the government go for it though? Don't see much downside for them and such projects would encourage more investment into the Ukraine. If AEG involves some Chinese partners it could go a long way to reducing the risk from Russia. I think RS has proved in the past that modernising industry or agriculture in the Ukraine does not have to mean a reduction in employment.

[mikkydhu] 12/5/2015 16:03

Yes, no half measures with Richard Spinks.
The pilot project for the PPP proposal, at 500,000 hectares, is more than 3 and a half times the area of Greater London.

[marab] 12/5/2015 14:24

I agree garth and RS obviously thinks big. Why try for one power plant when you can try for a whole group of them?
'If the PPP proposal is accepted, AEG plans to construct and operate clean energy Biomass power plants in partnership with the Ukraine state authorities close to the forests to serve local villages, towns and cities, utilising waste wood and low-grade timber gathered from enhanced forestry operations'.

[garth] 12/5/2015 14:11

These are by far the most interesting company in my portfolio

:0)

G.

[marab] 12/5/2015 13:55

Many thanks for posting that James. Every now and then you get a good day on AIM and this looks like one of them. I would guess that RS got enough funding interest for Canada to suggest potential investors have another look at the Ukraine.

[jamesbrightwell] 12/5/2015 13:45

Active Energy Group Plc
("Active Energy Group" or the "Group" or the "Company" or "AEG")

Proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Initiative
in Ukrainian Forestry and Biomass Energy Sectors



Active Energy Group Plc (AIM: AEG.L), the London Stock Exchange AIM-listed international supplier of industrial wood chip for MDF manufacturing and Biomass for Energy (BFE) power generation, second-generation Biomass for Energy (BFE) fuel solutions and systems, and global forestry and natural resources development services, announces that on 13 May 2015 its CEO Richard Spinks will unveil the Group's proposal for a significant Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project with the Ukraine government at the New Ukraine 2015 Investment Conference in Kiev.

AEG's proposed PPP initiative, which it believes could be established under the 2010 Ukrainian legal framework for such projects, outlines the Company's innovative plans to commercialise the country's extensive timberland and forestry assets, leveraging them to develop a sustainable clean energy Ukrainian power generation industry.

Mr Spinks speech at the 'Energy Independent Ukraine' session of the conference - to an audience of senior Ukrainian and international government officials, as well as international investors and business leaders - will detail how AEG believes it could assist the country in achieving three of its key national energy objectives: implementing its Sustainable Energy Action Plans to improve energy efficiency and share of renewables in power generation; achieving compliance with the EU energy market and opening new avenues of cooperation with EU member states; and securing its power generation sources, a vital step in enabling it to attain full energy independence.

He will state that "There has never been a better time for the progressive government of Ukraine, led by President Poroshenko, to adopt the Public-Private Partnership model. It's the essential accelerant to drive inward investment into Ukraine and will provide further evidence to the international business community that the country is 'cleaning up its act' and is open for business".

Ukraine's energy sector has suffered from years of neglect and under-funding, resulting in an aging and inefficient infrastructure and an unhealthy dependence on imports of Russian gas and foreign coal. Renewable energy currently accounts for a mere 0.6% of the country's electricity generation capacity, compared to the EU target of producing 20% of member states' energy from renewable sources by 2020.

Under its proposed PPP initiative, Active Energy Group - whose Ukraine-based operations are the country's largest producer and exporter of processed timber products - intends to work alongside the Ukrainian government and international investment funds to accelerate the move away from the country's reliance on foreign energy imports towards a renewable energy industry based upon sustainable management and commercialisation of its forestry assets, and development of a national network of Biomass-fuelled power plants.

If the PPP proposal is accepted, AEG plans to construct and operate clean energy Biomass power plants in partnership with the Ukraine state authorities close to the forests to serve local villages, towns and cities, utilising waste wood and low-grade timber gathered from enhanced forestry operations, which would be conducted in strict accordance with international environmental guidelines and sustainable forestry management practices.

As a first step in demonstrating the viability of the PPP initiative and its positive contribution to the Ukrainian economy, environment and energy sector, Active Energy Group has proposed commencing a pilot project with the Ukraine State Agency of Forestry Resources (SAFR) to cover an initial 500,000 hectares of timberland in the country.

Drawing upon its multinational team of timber industry professionals - who recently created a similar forestry development partnership project in Canada covering more than 250,000 hectares of lands owned by the Métis Settlements of Northern Alberta - and working alongside the existing Ukrainian forestry management personnel, the Company is proposing that it conducts a comprehensive survey of the selected standing timber resources to produce a full report on their commercial potential, which it expects would include development of on-site processing facilities, as well as harvesting and export of saw logs and processed timber products via Ukraine's Black Sea ports.



Based upon the Canadian model developed by AEG - which attracted US$300 million of investment offers in January 2015 - the Company's proposed PPP initiative would be structured to seek to relieve pressure on the Ukrainian treasury and state budget, while enabling modernisation and improvement of the country's existing forestry management resources to ensure their long-term viability and contribution to the country's economy, and propelling Ukraine's energy sector to the forefront of the global renewable energy industry.

"We believe that solar and wind power are now out of the equation,"says Mr Spinks, "hydro and Biomass are the future for the Ukrainian renewable energy industry".

Active Energy Group's innovative PPP plan comes at a particularly significant time for Ukraine, as the country looks to the future, re-evaluates its relationship with Russia and its over-reliance on Russian gas imports, and seeks to modernise its entire economy, putting its Soviet-era past behind it and reaching out to its European neighbours.

As Ukrainian President Poroshenko recently stated, the country must not allow any single energy source to fulfil more than 30% of its energy needs. Whilst analysts have identified that dozens of inefficient and polluting Soviet-era coal-fired power plants must close by the end of the decade, the government has neither revealed its plans to replace the energy they currently provide, nor how it intends to finance the huge investment required to develop a modern energy generation industry and transmission infrastructure.

"We understand that experts from the international energy community, the EC, EU member states and international finance institutions are preparing proposals to assist Ukraine in achieving energy independence by attracting inward investment." continues Mr Spinks "But if implemented, AEG's PPP initiative would be the first to tackle the problem head-on, with its focus on renewable clean energy Biomass power generation based on utilising the country's forestry resources."

"Ukraine's forests are the envy of many nations - our proposed PPP seeks to maintain and improve them, while using waste material and low-grade timber to create a modern, environmentally-responsible and cutting-edge clean energy network that could help current and future generations of Ukrainians to improve their standard of living and guarantee them a reliable and independent source of heat and power".

"I believe that we can achieve all that while enhancing the country's forestry resources through investment in modern equipment and stewardship practices, generating revenues from commercialising its timber assets, creating employment in rural communities, and relieving the pressure on the country's finances through international investment and increased tax revenues".

"It's the perfect storm… and it would also allow Ukraine to break free of its dependence on coal and gas imports from Russia and the pressure that places on its economy and population".

- ENDS -

NB: Active Energy Group will be publishing Mr Spinks presentation at the New Ukraine 2015 Investment Conference on its website at www.active-energy.com on the day of the conference - Wednesday 13th May 2015.







NOTES TO EDITORS & CONTACT INFORMATION

ABOUT ACTIVE ENERGY GROUP PLC:

Active Energy Group Plc is a London Stock Exchange AIM-listed company (AIM: AEG.L). Headquartered in the UK, it is a fast-expanding international business, experiencing strong growth and diversification since the current management team assumed responsibility in mid-2012.

The Group has considerable expertise across the entire timber industry supply chain - from forest to finished product.

Its four specialist business divisions, which reflect its knowledge and experience, are focussed on providing products and services to specific global market sectors:

· Forestry & Natural Resources Development and Management

· Wood Chip for Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF) Manufacturing

· Wood Chip for Biomass for Energy (BFE) Power Generation

· Second Generation Biomass for Energy (BFE) Fuel Solutions and Systems

Active Energy Group Plc operates from four international locations:

· Ukraine, where it is the largest producer and exporter of wood chip for MDF manufacturing.

· United Kingdom, where it operates a research & development facility for new BFE fuel technologies.

· Spain, from where it sources finished wood chip for export to international customers.

· Canada, where it has entered into a landmark joint venture - KAQUO Forestry & Natural Resources Development Corporation - with several indigenous Métis Settlements to commercialise in excess of 250,000 hectares of their lands, containing valuable forests and natural resources, including oil and gas reserves.

Ukraine and Canada, with their large forestry reserves and comprehensive road, rail and sea transport links, are ideal locations from which to source raw timber and manufacture wood chip and fuel pellets for supply to MDF producers and Biomass power plants.

In addition to its existing activities, the Group is actively developing innovative Biomass fuel solutions, converting waste wood and industrial/agricultural by-products into feedstock for clean energy power generation as a direct replacement for coal.

Active Energy Group Plc is led by a highly experienced and dedicated management team with a proven track record in the industries and regions in which it operates and from which its revenues are generated.

The Company has grown significantly in recent years, and has established a firm foundation, excellent reputation and international customer base upon which to build for the future.

COMPANY WEBSITE:

www.active-energy.com

ENQUIRIES:

Active Energy Group Plc
Richard Spinks, Chief Executive Officer [e-mail] Intl.: [phone]
Ukraine: [phone]

Mark Broomer, Corporate Communications [e-mail] Intl.: [phone]
UK: [phone]

6 Hillgrove Public Relations
Richard Hillgrove [e-mail] Office: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]

John Price [e-mail] Office: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]

WH Ireland Ltd. (Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Chris Fielding/Mark Leonard Office: [phone]




This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

[marab] 12/5/2015 12:08

cottoner - nice find and thanks for posting it. Looks like AEG are heading for power production with or without their pellet technology. They have already proved they can get finance so perhaps a chance of a power station soon if the Ukraine/Russia dispute ends.

Nice RNS to announcing AEG is getting out of the loss making Italian bio-mass contract to concentrate sales on the higher profit sales to Turkey.

[cottoner] 12/5/2015 11:15

ACTIVE ENERGY GROUP PLANS UKRAINE PROJECT

/ 12 MAY 2015

Active Energy Group, which is headquartered in Cardigan, has revealed plans to collaborate with the government of the Ukraine on the commercialisation of the country's timber and forestry assets.

The deal covers almost 9.6 million hectares (23.7 million acres), equivalent to 15.9 per cent of its total land area, which will be leveraged them to develop a more sustainable Ukrainian power generation industry.

The company's operations in the Ukraine are the country's largest producer and exporter of processed timber products.

It proposes working with the Ukrainian government and international investment funds on the creation of a renewable energy industry.

The business plans to start a pilot project with the Ukraine State Agency of Forestry Resources (SAFR) covering an initial 500,000 hectares (1.24 million acres).
Revenues would then be used to fund the construction of biomass power plants. It follows a similar partnership with Métis Settlements in Canada.

Richard Spinks, chief executive of Active Energy Group, will speak at the New Ukraine 2015 Investment Conference in Kiev on Wednesday 13 May 2015.

He is expected to say: "Our initiative would deliver many advantages. It could not only create a national biomass-fuelled clean energy power generation industry to replace its Soviet-era infrastructure, but also circumvent the need to invest in an expensive and inefficient transmission system by generating energy close to where it's needed"

"And it could achieve all that while enhancing the country's forestry resources through investment in modern equipment and stewardship practices, generating revenues from commercialising its timber assets, creating as many as 7,000 jobs in rural communities, and relieving the pressure on the country's finances through international investment and increased tax revenues."

[marab] 12/5/2015 07:59

garth we are in total agreement - you just wrote it better ;-) In theory the KAQOU deal could just be the start for AEG if they get it up and running.

[garth] 12/5/2015 07:53

Hi Marab.

My understanding was that it was both. From memory, in the Proactive video it is put to Richard that the two additional Metis groups provided a clear majority. Either in the same interview, or in one of the text interviews I read the point you make was also given - other First People groups in Canada and elsewhere are watching to see how KAQOU manage this process or have already voiced interest....

Please correct me if you feel any of this is inaccurate - there is ample going on here without the need for inadvertent embellishments or misrepresentations.

G.

[marab] 12/5/2015 07:45

garth, I may be wrong but I think you mean that two more of the Metis groups said they wanted in. In those interviews they were saying that they had inquiries from other (non Metis) native groups across Canada. The Metis in Canada got involved with AEG through the work they were doing in the Ukraine. There is every chance that groups in other countries are watching what happens in Canada.

[garth] 11/5/2015 21:34

Marab,

The interviews given at the time indicated that 2 others had approached re the forestry- giving a significant majority. Others have approached with regard to other resources collaboration.

G.

[drmaccers] 11/5/2015 20:28

It's great all round.I was emailing RS at the weekend. He said yo look at Page 7 of e edmonton journal today and that the ukraine presentation would be on the website before he gives it this week. Hopefully with a juicy RNS