To Company Announcements Office Facsimile 1300 135 638

Company ASX Limited Date 19 January 2009

From Bill Hundy Pages 3

Subject ORIGIN’S URANQUINTY COMES ONLINE.

Please find attached ASX Release on above subject.

Regards

Bill Hundy Company Secretary

02 8345 5467 – [email protected]

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Origin Energy Limited ACN 000 051 696 • Lvl 45 Australia Square, 264-278 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 5376, Sydney NSW 2001 • Telephone (02) 8345 5000 • Facsimile (02) 9252 1566 • www.originenergy.com.au

ASX/Media Release

19 January 2009

Origin’s Uranquinty Power Station comes online Four gas turbines commence commercial operation

New South Wales electricity supply received a significant boost last week when Origin’s 640MW gas-fired Uranquinty Power Station became fully operational. The peaking power station in the State’s south-west commenced commercial operations just as New South Wales was experiencing extreme summer temperatures and record demand conditions. Origin announced in July 2008 that it had acquired Uranquinty Power station for $700m from Babcock and Brown Power. In line with plan, all four of the station’s 160MW open cycle gas turbine (OCGT) units are now online.

Origin’s Executive General Manager for Major Development Projects, Andrew Stock, said, “The Uranquinty Power Station will play a critical role in meeting New South Wales’ future power needs.

“Gas-fired plant emits significantly fewer emissions than coal and has a large role to play in moving Australia toward a lower-carbon future. Uranquinty is just one in a series of investments being made by Origin to increase our gas-fired generating capacity.”

As part of the project, two 132kV transmission lines adjacent to the site have been re-constructed within existing easements from the Power Station to the sub-station (17km).

The Uranquinty Power Station will employ eight people to operate the facility. 430 people were employed on site during construction, 90 of these from the local area around Wagga Wagga in New South Wales.

For further information please contact:

Media Michelle Zahra Communications Manager Ph: 02 8345 5077 Mobile: 0408 119 877

Investors For personal use only use personal For Chris Giaouris Manager Investor Communications Ph: 02 8345 5556 Mobile: 0417 223 106

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Origin Energy Limited ABN 30 000 051 696 Level 45 Australia Square, 264-278 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 5376, Sydney NSW 2001 Telephone (02) 8345 5000 Facsimile (02) 9252 1566 www.originenergy.com.au

About Origin Energy Origin Energy is Australasia’s leading integrated energy company focused on gas and oil exploration and production, power generation and energy retailing. Listed in the ASX top 20 the company has around 4,000 employees, is a leading producer of gas in eastern Australia, is the largest owner and developer of gas fired in Australia and is a leading wholesaler and retailer of energy, servicing more than three million electricity, natural gas and LPG customers across Australia and the Pacific. Origin’s strategic positioning and portfolio of assets provide flexibility, stability and significant opportunities for growth in the ever changing energy industry. Through Australia Pacific LNG, its 50:50 joint venture with ConocoPhillips, Origin intends to develop Australia’s largest CSG reserves base into Australia’s largest CSG to LNG project. In New Zealand Origin is the major shareholder in Contact Energy, New Zealand's leading integrated energy company, operates several oil and gas fields, producing facilities and developments, and is one of the largest holders of petroleum exploration acreage in the country. Origin has investments in renewable energy, a strong focus on ensuring the sustainability of its operations and is the largest green energy retailer in Australia. For more information go to www.originenergy.com.au

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