File No.____________

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                Washington, D.C.

                                    FORM U-57

                 NOTIFICATION OF FOREIGN UTILITY COMPANY STATUS

                        Filed under section 33(a) of the

             Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended


Sonel SA
(name of foreign utility company)

by

THE AES CORPORATION
1001 N. 19th Street
Suite 2000
Arlington, Virginia 22209
(name of filing company, if filed on behalf of a foreign utility company)

The Commission is hereby requested to mail copies of all correspondence relating
to this Notification to:

         Erik Luckau
         The AES Corporation
         1001 N. 19th Street
         Suite 2000
         Arlington, Virginia 22209

         Andrew B. Young
         Hugh E. Hilliard
         Dewey Ballantine LLP
         1775 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
         Washington, D.C. 20006




ITEM 1

         Foreign utility company status is claimed by Sonel SA ("Sonel"), a
public limited company (societe anonyme) organized and existing under the
laws of the Republic of Cameroon with its business address at Direction
Generale, BP 4077, Avenue Charles de Gaulle, Douala, Republic of Cameroon.

         AES Cameroon Holdings SA ("AES Cameroon") owns a 56% interest in
Sonel, an integrated electric utility company in Cameroon, which has
approximately 800 megawatts of installed generating capacity. The Government
of Cameroon owns the remaining 44% interest in Sonel.

          AES Cameroon is wholly owned by AES Europe Sarl, which is wholly owned
by AES Global Power Holdings BV. AES Global Power Holdings BV is wholly owned by
Global Power Holdings, which is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of The AES
Corporation ("AES").

         AES, a Delaware corporation, is a public utility holding company exempt
from registration under section 3(a)(5) of the Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935 (the "Act").

ITEM 2

         Sonel has two domestic associate public utility companies, Central
Illinois Light Company ("CILCO") and Indianapolis Power and Light Company
("IPL"). CILCO is wholly owned by CILCORP, Inc., which, in turn, is a wholly
owned subsidiary of AES. IPL is wholly owned by IPALCO Enterprises Inc.,
which, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of AES.

         Neither CILCO nor IPL has made any investment in, nor has any
contractual relationship with, Sonel, nor are any such investments or
contractual relationships contemplated.

EXHIBIT A

         By letter dated March 10, 1999, the Illinois Commerce Commission
certified to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") with respect to
CILCO that (1) it has the authority and resources to protect Illinois consumers
in accordance with applicable Illinois statutes, and (2) it intends to exercise
that authority, as required under section 33(a)(2) of the Act in connection with
AES' acquisition of foreign utility companies. AES hereby incorporates this
letter, filed June 10, 1999, in file number 070-09465, by reference.

         By letter dated September 28, 2000, the Indiana Utility Regulatory
Commission certified to the SEC with respect to IPL that (1) it has the
authority and resources to protect ratepayers subject to its jurisdiction, and
(2) it intends to exercise that authority as required under section 33(a)(2) of
the Act in connection with AES' acquisition of foreign utility companies. AES
hereby incorporates this letter, filed October 27, 2000, in file number
070-09779, by reference.






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         The undersigned company has duly caused this statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



By:  /s/ Erik Luckau

Erik Luckau
Associate General Counsel
The AES Corporation
1001 N. 19th Street, Suite 2000
Arlington, Virginia 22209
(703) 558-4879

Dated: December 21, 2001






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