Tauern Gas Pipeline Applies for Exemption for Long-Term Investment Security

VIENNA, Austria -

- Application for Exemption Submitted to Austrian Regulatory Authority

Tauerngasleitung GmbH has submitted an exemption application under Section 20a of the Austrian Gas Act (Gaswirtschaftsgesetz) (Section 22 Directive 2003/55/EC) with the regulatory authority, the Energie-Control Kommission. This application is to create long-term secure conditions for shippers and investors with respect to the terms of transportation. The Tauern Gas Pipeline (TGL) project will lead to a sustained improvement in supply security in Austria and Europe and help to promote more competition, thanks to greater diversification of gas purchasing sources.

An application has been made to create stable investment conditions by fixing the methods for determining the transportation fees for a period of 25 full gas-years starting from the commissioning of the TGL project. Furthermore, a request has been made for exemption from some network access conditions for the transportation capacities, which will be committed by the investors as being for their own use.

Now that the exemption procedure has been initiated, the capacity allocation procedure, known as TGL Open Season 2009, will start soon. The exact start of the TGL Open Season 2009 will be announced in European trade publications, in international media and on the TGL website (www.tauerngasleitung.at). The TGL Open Season 2009 ends with the conclusion of the transportation service contracts.

The TGL website will be the primary and central information medium during the TGL Open Season 2009.

About the project

The Tauern Gas Pipeline (TGL) project permits the continuous transportation of gas over a distance of 290 km from Haiming in Bavaria through Upper Austria to Malborghetto/Tarvis in Italy and will enhance supply security in Austria and Europe. The Tauern Gas Pipeline will have a total transportation capacity of 1,300,000 Nm(cubed)/h in both the northerly and southerly directions. The TGL project is backed by a predominantly Austrian consortium. The stakes in Tauerngasleitung GmbH are held by Energie AG Oberösterreich (15%), Kelag (7.5%), RAG (10%), Salzburg AG (15%) and TIGAS-Erdgas Tirol GmbH (7.5%). E.ON Ruhrgas AG, one of Europe’s leading gas suppliers, holds 45%. If the results of the feasibility study and the environmental impact assessment are positive, construction of the pipeline is scheduled to begin in 2010. Completion and commissioning are planned for 2015.

Further information: TGL-Medienkoordination: Maria Wedenig c/o ikp GmbH +43(0)1-524-77-90-16 maria.wedenig@ikp.at

Source: Tauern Gas Pipeline

Further information: TGL-Medienkoordination: Maria Wedenig, c/o ikp GmbH, +43(0)1-524-77-90-16, maria.wedenig at ikp.at