HONG KONG, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd. ("Datang Power" or the "Company") (HKEx: 991; SSE: 601991; LSE: DAT; ADR: DIPGY) announced the unaudited consolidated operating results of the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Group") for the six months ended 30 June 2009 (the "Period").

During the Period, operating revenue of the Group amounted to approximately RMB20,684 million, representing an increase of approximately 18.90% as compared to the corresponding period of 2008 (Corresponding Period Last Year). Net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company amounted to approximately RMB722 million, an increase of approximately 53.04% year-on-year. Basic earnings per share attributable to equity holders of the Company amounted to approximately RMB0.0613, an increase of approximately RMB0.0211 per share year-on-year. The Board does not recommend any payment of interim dividend for 2009.

Mr. Zhai Ruoyu, Chairman of Datang Power, said, "In the first half of 2009, although power demand saw a rebound in May and June, power consumption during the Period saw a decline as compared to the Corresponding Period Last Year and utilisation hours of power generation facilities were lower than that in the Corresponding Period Last Year. These factors have affected the profitability of power companies. However, the consolidated average on-grid tariff of the Group saw an increase over the Corresponding Period Last Year, and the Group, with reference to the changes in the market environment, rigorously enhanced production and operation, as well as actively implementing measures to expand income sources and reduce expenditure. As a result, the Group achieved a significant growth in profit during the Period."

In the first half of 2009, the operational generating units of the Group maintained safe and stable operation. Total power generation and total on-grid power generation of the Group amounted to approximately 61.3117 billion kWh and 57.7371 billion kWh respectively. Although total power generation and total on-grid power generation decreased slightly year-on-year during the Period, power sales of the Group increased compared to the Corresponding Period Last Year due to the two tariff hikes and a decrease in fuel costs.

During the Period, the Group delegated management responsibilities level-by-level according to production commencement targets, thereby ensuring that new generating units with a total capacity of approximately 2,653.5MW commenced production successfully. Of such new capacity, 1,860MW, 735MW and 58.5MW were attributable to coal-fired units, hydropower units and wind power units, respectively.

In addition, the Group continued to push ahead its expansion in power-related upstream and downstream projects. With regard to coal mining operations, Phase 1 of the East Unit 2 coal mine of Shengli Coal Mine (with an annual production capacity of 10 million tonnes) has been approved by the relevant PRC authorities and commenced production during the Period. Meanwhile, preliminary development works on the Phase 2 and Phase 3 projects of the East Unit 2 coal mine of Shengli Coal Mine, Wujianfang Coal Mine as well as Kongduigou Coal Mine have been actively proceeding. The successful development of the above-mentioned coal mine projects will further increase the coal self-sufficiency ratio of the Group's power plants. On the coal chemical front, construction progress on Duolun Coal Chemical Project has been smooth. Upon commencement of production, the project is expected to produce 460,000 tonnes of polypropylene and other by-products per year and will become a new source of profit growth for the Group.

During the Period, the Group achieved significant results in energy savings and consumption reduction. Coal consumption of the Group amounted to approximately 326.8g/kWh, representing a decrease of approximately 5.67g/kWh over the Corresponding Period Last Year, while the consolidated electricity consumption rate of power plants amounted to approximately 5.86%. Desulphurisation facilities operation rate and consolidated desulphurisation efficiency rate reached approximately 99.82% and 95.07%, respectively, representing increases of approximately 2.44 and 2.06 percentage-points year-on-year. Emission rates of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, smoke ash and waste water declined approximately 72.06%, 27.97%, 41.47% and 24.88% respectively year-on-year, which were significant decreases over the Corresponding Period Last Year.

Looking ahead into the second half of 2009, Mr. Zhai said, "In the second half of 2009, as the macro-economy of the PRC is gradually recovering, power demand is expected to have a growth trend, thereby easing considerably the pressure on the operation of the Group. However, the uncertainties arising from key-contract coal prices; the volatilities arising from market coal prices; the relatively low utilisation hours of generating units; and continuous increase in finance costs will further impose pressure on the operations of the Group. Faced with a difficult operating environment, the Group will actively expand its room for development by fully leveraging its advantages in resources, scale, geographical distribution and costs. It will continue the implementation of the Company's diversified development strategy, with a view to enhancing the profitability of the Company."

Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd.

Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd. is one of the largest independent power producers in China. As at 30 June 2009, the Company's total installed capacity in operation amounted to 27,790.2MW. The Company has been listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the London Stock Exchange respectively since March 1997. Since September 2001, the Company's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) have been traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market. The Company has been successfully listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since December 2006.

Encl: Extract of Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (unaudited)

http://www.prnasia.com/xprn/sa/attachment/2009/08/20090816-831714.pdf

    For enquiries, please contact:

    Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd.
    Mr. Grant Zhang / Ms. Karen Chen
    Tel: (8610) 8800 8678 / 8800 8682
    Fax: (8610) 8800 8684

    Rikes Hill & Knowlton Limited
    Ms. Edith Lui / Ms. Kitty Liu / Ms. Leona Zeng
    Tel: (852) 2520 2201
    Fax: (852) 2520 2241

SOURCE Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd.