Ormat Technologies Signs Letter of Intent With KPLC to Increase Capacity of the Olkaria III Geothermal Power Plant

RENO, Nev., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ormat Technologies (NYSE: ORA), announced today that its project subsidiary has signed a letter of intent with the off-taker, Kenya Power & Lighting Co. Ltd ("KPLC"), for further expansion of its Olkaria III power plant by up to 52 MW (from 48 MW to up to 100MW) within the framework of the existing power purchase agreement ("PPA"). The expansion is to be developed in two phases. Phase I comprising of 36 MW within 3.5 years from finalizing the amendment to the existing PPA with an option for phase II comprising of 16 MW within 4.5 years from commercial operation of phase I. The amendment to the existing PPA is subject to applicable governmental approvals and the consent of the lenders that provided the financing to the existing power plant.

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Dita Bronicki, Chief Executive Officer of Ormat Technologies said, "We are excited about the opportunity to leverage the success of the existing power plant and are looking forward to working with KPLC on this project. We expect that contractual documents on the amendment to the PPA will be completed in the near future. Kenya is a proven and significant resource for geothermal energy, and it is our belief that the proposed expansion will provide Kenya with much needed renewable, dependable and cost-effective electricity."

The existing 48MW Olkaria III plant is located in Naivasha, Kenya and is comprised of two phases.  The first phase of approximately 13 MW commenced commercial operations in August 2000 and the second phase of approximately 35 MW commenced operation in January 2009.  The development and construction of the existing plant was funded by the Company's own equity and upon commercial operation of the second phase, the Company has refinanced its investment through senior secured project finance loan from a group of European Development Finance Institutions arranged by Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH ("DEG").

About Ormat Technologies

Ormat Technologies, Inc. is the only vertically-integrated company primarily engaged in the geothermal and recovered energy power business. The Company designs, develops, owns and operates geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants around the world. Additionally, the Company designs, manufactures and sells geothermal and recovered energy power units and other power-generating equipment, and provides related services. The Company has more than four decades of experience in the development of environmentally-sound power, primarily in geothermal and recovered-energy generation. Ormat products and systems are covered by 75 U.S. patents. Ormat has built over approximately 1,200 MW of plants half for its own account and half as supplies to utilities and developers. Ormat current generating portfolio includes the following geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants: in the United States - Brady, Heber, Mammoth, Ormesa, Puna, Steamboat, OREG 1, OREG 2 and Peetz; in Guatemala - Zunil and Amatitlan; in Kenya – Olkaria III; in Nicaragua - Momotombo.

Ormat's Safe Harbor Statement

Information provided in this press release may contain statements relating to current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally relate to Ormat's plans, objectives and expectations for future operations and are based upon its management's current estimates and projections of future results or trends. Actual future results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, see "Risk Factors" as described in Ormat Technologies, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2009.

These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Ormat Technologies, Inc.