The Gaz de France Group has signed a partnership agreement with the Association Liégeoise du Gaz (ALG), involving the acquisition of a 50% stake in its Belgian gas marketing subsidiary ALG Négoce.¹

ALG is an intermunicipal natural gas distribution company that supplies gas to almost 190,000 customers, mainly in the province of Liege.

Formed in October 2003², ALG Négoce markets natural gas to eligible customers³ in Wallonia. Its customer base will be extended to include all business consumers on 1 July 2004, followed by household consumers when they too become eligible.

This partnership will strengthen the position of ALG Négoce in Belgium, in a context of progressive gas market opening.

It will enable Gaz de France to expand its natural gas marketing activities on the Belgian market, where it is already building relations with major industrial customers. The Group is also present in gas transmission and energy services in Belgium.

For Pierre Gadonneix, Chairman and CEO of Gaz de France, “this operation forms part of the Group's strategy of growth in Europe.”

An integrated, gas-oriented energy company, Gaz de France is a European gas market leader. In 2003, the Group reported net sales of €16.6 billion and net income of €910 million.


(1) The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant authorities.


(2) As part of the market opening process, Wallonian regulations require distribution companies to unbundle the activities of natural gas marketing to eligible customers and distribution network management.


(3) From 4 January 2004, customers consuming more than 12 GWh of natural gas per year.

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