3 November 2005 - E.ON is to invest €240m ($287m) over the coming years upgrading its generation fleet in the Netherlands.

The first major project will see the company extend the lifetime of the Maasvlakte power station until 2022 while at the same time improving its environmental performance.

Located adjacent to the port of Rotterdam, the hard coal fired power station has a capacity of 1000 MW. The planned retrofit will increase the capacity and energy efficiency. Emission reduction equipment will be installed in 2006 and 2007.

E.ON CEO, Wulf Bernotat, said: "The modernization of Maasvlakte power station will strengthen our position on the Dutch energy market."

E.ON has recently acquired its first retail customers in the Netherlands with the purchase of NRE Energie in June this year.