Joint Venture Company

Scottish & Southern Energy PLC
18 January 2001


                     SEABANK POWER COMPLETES SECOND PHASE

Seabank Power Limited, a 50:50 joint venture between BG Group plc and Scottish
and  Southern  Energy plc, today took over full commercial  operation  of  the
1,140  megawatts  combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station  at  Hallen,
near Bristol.

Construction  of the £435 million development began in January  1996  and  was
carried  out in two phases.  The first, which included remediation of a  brown
field  site, was formally handed over to the shareholders in March  2000.   It
has  the  capacity  to  generate 755 MW of electricity.   Phase  two,  with  a
capacity  of  385  MW, was started in January 1999 and has been  delivered  to
Seabank Power on budget and to schedule.

Jon Wormley, Executive Vice President, BG Group said: 'Through this investment
BG Group has been able to jointly develop a first rate power station and forge
a strong partnership co-operation. Seabank is a demonstration of an integrated
gas  play,  utilising our capabilities from across our key business  segments,
and  strategically  creating  linkages  between  our  upstream  interests  and
downstream investments.'

Dr  James Martin, Generation Director of Scottish and Southern Energy,  added:
'The addition of the output of Seabank, operating to efficiencies over 57%, to
our  portfolio reinforces Scottish and Southern Energy as the operator of  the
youngest,  most  flexible,  most efficient and environmentally  of  the  major
generators.  Following the repowering of our Peterhead Power Station  on  time
and  on budget, the delivery of Phase II at Seabank in similar vein is no mean
achievement and a credit to the teams involved.'

Nigel  Shaw, Chairman of Seabank Power Limited, concluded: Seabank  Power  has
realised  a  huge milestone with the delivery of this project.  We  have  seen
Phase I come to fruition and operate efficiently whilst the speed of Phase  II
construction, taking two years, has been remarkable. The Power Station is  now
one of the UK's most efficient and an environmental leader in its class.'

The  station  was built by Siemens plc on 40 acres of a former gasworks  site.
An  additional  surrounding area of 40 acres has also been landscaped.   Three
Siemens  V94.3A gas turbines utilise state-of-the-art technology which operate
with  efficiencies  approaching  60 per cent  compared  to  35  per  cent  for
conventional power stations.

Natural  gas  to  the  power plant, provided by Scottish and  Southern  Energy
(SSE),   is  sourced  via  a  specially  constructed  26  kilometres   42-inch
underground  pipeline which links to the national gas network at Pucklechurch,
Bristol.   A  gas  compressor station, using two 2.5 MVA  electrically  driven
compressors,  is  located  at  this site and is  capable  of  packing  gas  to
pressures  in  excess  of  70 bar.  BG Group, via  a  subsidiary  company,  BG
Exploration and Production Limited is supplying gas to SSE under an eight-year
gas sales agreement.

Total  electricity  output from the power plant is contracted  under  separate
arrangements  to SSE and sold into the marketplace.  The site is connected  to
the  national  electricity grid via a 400,000 volt  (400kV)  substation.   The
plant's  total generating capacity is sufficient to supply the City of Bristol
and surrounding areas.

At  peak  construction times, the project development employed  in  excess  of
1,000 employees.  The station is currently employing 55 staff.

Notes to Editors

1.  BG  Group  plc  wholly owns and operates the 1,057 MW  Ballylumford  Power
Station  in  Northern  Ireland, which generates over half  of  the  Province's
energy needs.  It has a 40 per cent interest in the Santa Rita 1,000 MW  power
plant in the Philippines and is currently developing an adjacent 500 MW plant.
In addition, it has a 20 per cent shareholding in Genting Sanyen Power, one of
Malaysia's main power stations, and has power generation interests in Italy.

2.  Scottish and Southern Energy plc will have over 7000 MW by 2002  from  its
own  generation  or  on  long term contract. It is the  largest  generator  of
renewable energy in the UK. The company is the largest network asset  operator
in the UK and has 4 million electricity and 1 million gas customers.

For  further information ring the SSE Press Office on 0870 9000410  or  BG  on
0118 929 3110.