Tauern Gas Pipeline Starts TGL Open Season 2009 on 29th June 2009

VIENNA - The allocation procedure for the transportation capacities of the Tauern Gas Pipeline project, known as TGL Open Season 2009, starts on 29th June. In this next step of the feasibility study, the market demand will be determined on the basis of binding capacity requests and long-term transportation capacities allocated on a non-discriminatory basis. All companies that register in the period between 29th June and 21st August 2009 and that meet the requirements of the General Rules (TGL AVR - OS) are entitled to participate.

“The Tauern Gas Pipeline (TGL) project permits the continuous transportation of gas over a distance of 290 km from Haiming in Bavaria through Austria to the area of Malborghetto/Tarvis in Italy and will enhance supply security in Austria and Europe,” Thomas Kettl, Managing Director of Tauerngasleitung GmbH, explains. The Tauern Gas Pipeline connects Austria and the central European gas network with the Mediterranean region and the gas markets of Italy and south-east Europe by the geographically shortest route over the Alps. The EU Commission’s inclusion of the TGL in the Trans-European Networks (TEN) confirms the pan-European significance of this transalpine project, which involves total investments of some EUR 1 billion.

In the TGL Open Season 2009, transportation capacities in both the northerly and the southerly direction will be offered for commitment by third parties for 25 years. The process is divided into the information phase, the commitment phase and the allocation phase - in accordance with the General Rules for the TGL Open Season 2009 (TGL AVR - OS). In the information phase, interested parties have the opportunity to register as participants in order to be able to submit binding capacity requests in the subsequent commitment phase. The allocation phase begins after the exemption notice applied for by TGL under Section 20a of the Austrian Gas Act (Gaswirtschaftsgesetz) by the Energie-Control Kommission and the completion of the procedure to review this decision by the EU Commission. This allocation phase involves the binding capacity allocation and the conclusion of the transportation service contracts.

The TGL Open Season 2009 ends with the conclusion of the transportation service contracts. The project operators will then decide without delay on the realisation of the project.

You will find information on the Tauern Gas Pipeline project as well as all documents for participation in the TGL Open Season 2009 at www.tauerngasleitung.at. 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 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 direction. 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