CMS Energy Announces Commercial Operation of its second 110-Megawatt Electric Generating Unit in Republic of Ghana

DEARBORN, Mich., November 20, 2000 - CMS Energy Corporation and its partner, Ghana's Volta River Authority (VRA), today announced commercial operation has been achieved on the second of two light crude oil fueled combustion turbine generators comprising the second phase of the 220-megawatt Takoradi Thermal Power Plant at Aboadze, Ghana.

Commercial operation of the second 110-megawatt unit was achieved in September, 2000. The first combustion turbine generator entered commercial operation in March, 2000. Both of the new units are convertible to natural gas fuel. CMS Energy holds a 90 percent ownership and operates the facility; VRA holds a 10 percent interest with an option to increase its ownership to 30 percent. The facility sells its output to VRA under a long term agreement.

"This plant is a symbol of the partnership between the United States and the Republic of Ghana," said Rodney E. Boulanger, president and chief executive officer of CMS Energy's independent power unit, CMS Generation Co., in inauguration ceremonies with His Excellency, Flight Lieutenant J. J. Rawlings, President of the Republic of Ghana at the Takoradi Thermal Power Station. CMS Energy and VRA are presently working to expand the Takoradi Thermal Power Station by adding a third, 110-megawatt steam turbine-generator, thereby converting the facility to combined cycle operation. "This plant will be capable of providing almost 20 percent of the power supplies for Ghana when the Takoradi expansion is completed," Boulanger added.

The VRA, worth in excess of (U.S.)$2 billion in net assets, is one of the largest corporations in West Africa. Its core business involves the generation, transmission and distribution of electric power in Ghana. It also supplies power to the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin and operates an interconnection with La Cote d'Ivoire.

CMS Energy Corporation has annual sales of more than $7 billion and assets of about $15 billion throughout the U.S. and around the world with businesses in electric and natural gas utility operations; independent power production; natural gas pipelines, gathering, processing and storage; oil and gas exploration and production; and energy marketing, services and trading.

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