APA  Group  (ASX:APA)  today  announced  that  the  Energy  Infrastructure  Investments  (EII)  consortium,  of  which  it  is  a  member,  will  invest  in  the  North  Brown  Hill  wind  farm  development  at  Hallett,  South  Australia.   This  is  EII’s  first  investment  in  renewable  energy  generation.  

The  EII  consortium  comprising  APA  (20.2%),  Marubeni  Corporation  (39.9%)  and  Osaka  Gas  Company  Ltd.  (39.9%)  purchased  the  North  Brown  Hill  wind  farm  project  from  AGL  Energy.   The  enterprise  value  of  the  wind  farm  project  is  $459.5  million,  and  after  deduction  of  $362.0  million  for  non‐recourse  financing,  APA’s  equity  interest  represents  $19.7  million.  

The  North  Brown  Hill  wind  farm  is  currently  in  the  initial  stages  of  construction,  and  at  completion  will  have  63  wind  turbines  with  a  total  wind‐generated  capacity  of  132.3  MW.   Commissioning  is  scheduled  to  occur  by  June  2011.    

AGL  Energy  is  developing  the  North  Brown  Hill  wind  farm,  and  will  continue  its  involvement  after  completion  for  a  25  year  term  as  offtaker,  as  well  as  provide  operations  and  maintenance  support,  with  operational  oversight  by  EII.   EII  will  receive  a  stable  revenue  flow  for  the  term  of  the  agreement.