Cape Town, South Africa, September 27, 2006

Sustainable Energy Africa has been selected from a field of close to 200 applicants from 55 countries as one of 10 organisations around the world in the running for the 2006 Alcan Prize for Sustainability, worth US$ 1 million, or a US$15,000 Alcan Grant to build organisational capacity. The 2006 shortlist was released internationally today by Alcan Inc., a global leader in aluminum and packaging products headquartered in Montreal, Canada, and the U.K.-based Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), which acts as third-party manager of the Alcan Prize.

"As a result of a rigorous first round of assessment, IBLF congratulates the 10 shortlisted organisations this year. The Alcan Prize highlights innovative sustainability practices and how action translates into social, economic and environmental impact.  This shortlist demonstrates that the commitment to sustainability is alive and thriving amongst the NGO community." - IBLF

Alcan Inc, created the Alcan Prize for Sustainability in 2004 to recognize outstanding contributions to the goal of economic, environmental, and social sustainability by not-for-profit, non-governmental, and civil society organisations. "The Alcan Prize for Sustainability demonstrates our deep belief that the international goal of sustainable development is best served when all sectors of society – business, NGO's, governments, and academia – work together" said Daniel Gagnier, Senior Vice President, Corporate and External Affairs, Alcan Inc. "On behalf of Alcan and our 65,000 employees around the world, I extend our congratulations to Sustainable Energy Africa. We wish them every success as the adjudication process moves into its final phase."

Since the March 31 closing date for entries, the IBLF has coordinated Assessment Panels in Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Pakistan, and the U.K. The assessment process, in which close to 90 representatives of business, government, academia, and the NGO community took part, was fully endorsed by the Adjudication Panel, which reviewed and approved the shortlist. David Runnalls, Chairman of the Adjudication Panel said "On behalf of the Adjudication panel, we extend our congratulations to the 10 shortlisted organisations this year.  These organisations have survived a meticulous evaluation and we are pleased that the regional diversity of the shortlist reflects the international ethos of the Prize.  We commend them on their success so far."

The Adjudication Panel will now conduct an in-depth review of the shortlist and select the winner of the Alcan Prize and up to four recipients of Alcan Grants. These US$15,000 Grants will allow a senior representative of each selected organisation to earn a post-graduate certificate in Cross Sector Partnerships from the University of Cambridge. The Alcan Prize winner and Alcan Grant recipients will be announced when the adjudication process is complete.