Essar Energy Regulatory News (ESSR)

Essar Energy notes media reports following Indian ministerial coal block meeting

May 30, 2012: Essar Energy plc [LSE: ESSR], the India-focused integrated energy company, today announced that it has noted media reports published following a meeting of the Government of India's Group of Ministers on coal.

The reports indicate that Essar Energy's coal block at Mahan in Madhya Pradesh state is among those to have been provisionally approved by the Group of Ministers for Stage 1 Forest Clearance. This would be an in principle approval, subject to the satisfaction of conditions, to enter and clear the coal block areas.

However, our understanding is that the final decision will be taken by the Indian Cabinet.

Essar Energy is yet to receive any official notification from the Government of India following the meeting of the Group of Ministers. Essar Energy will update investors in due course if and when official notification is received.

The Mahan coal block will supply fuel to the nearby 1,200 megawatt Mahan I power project, which is due to be commissioned over the next few months.

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Alternatively, please contact:

Essar Energy

Mark Lidiard, Director of Investor Relations & Communications +44 20 7408 8714 or +44 7554 440421

Andrew Turpin, Head of Media Relations +44 20 7408 8702 or +44 7827 283659

Capital MS&L

Richard Campbell +44 20 7307 5334 or +44 7775 784 933

Nicholas Bastin +44 20 7255 5117 or +44 7931 500 066

About Essar Energy

Essar Energy (LSE:ESSR) is a world class, low-cost, integrated energy company with an established track record.

Essar Energy, through its subsidiaries, owns one of India's largest private power producers with 1,600MW of installed capacity and a further 8,070MW under construction.

Essar Energy, through its subsidiaries, owns one of India's fastest growing private sector oil and gas companies with a diverse portfolio of exploration and production assets. The Vadinar refinery, located in Gujarat, is India's second largest private sector oil refinery with throughput capacity of 14.7 million metric tonnes per annum and plans to expand to 20mmtpa by September 2012.

About Essar Group

The Essar Group (the "Group") is a multinational conglomerate and a leading player in the sectors of Steel, Oil, Gas, Power, Communications, Shipping, Ports, Logistics, Construction and Minerals. With operations in more than 25 countries across five continents, the Group employs over 70,000 people, with annual revenues of US$17 billion.

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This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Group's plans, objectives and performance. Such statements relate to events and depend on circumstances that may occur in the future and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although the Group believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are reasonable, there are a number of factors which could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including, without limitation, the enactment of legislation or regulation that may impose costs or restrict activities; the re-negotiation of contracts or licences; fluctuations in demand and pricing in the Oil and Gas, Power and Energy industries; fluctuations in exchange controls; changes in government policy and taxations; industrial disputes; war and terrorism. Further information on the significant risks and uncertainties associated with the Group's business is set out in the Prospectus published on 4 May 2010. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this document. The Group undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.

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