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Paris, 19 May 2008 – Gaz de France and its transmission subsidiary GRTgaz just became shareholders of Powernext, through respectively a 6.6% and a 5% stake. Each will have a seat on the Board of Directors.

Gaz de France's initiative aims to enhance its involvement in the development of the French gas market. The Group supports the project to create a gas exchange in France that will facilitate trades between operators and improve the quality of price references. The gas exchange will thus foster liquidity on the French gas market.

GRTgaz has been working alongside Powernext since 2007 with the creation of the “Balancing GRTgaz” platform which addresses its needs to balance the network. The daily participation of the transmission operator on this platform improves market efficiency. GRTgaz is now going to adapt its system to allow balancing transactions to go through the new exchange.

As the leading French gas operator, Gaz de France will commit to promote this organised gas market, specifically through its subsidiary Gaselys, already active on Powernext power exchange and on the “Balancing GRTgaz” platform.

About Gaz de France:
The Gaz de France group is a major player in the European energy market. Ranked first for the distribution of natural gas in Europe, Gaz de France employs close to 50.000 people and, in 2007 generated €27 billion in sales. The group boasts a portfolio of around 14 million customers, 11 million of whom are based in France. Listed on the Paris stock exchange, Gaz de France is part of the CAC40 and Dow Jones Stoxx 600.
Formed in 2001, Gaselys is the Group's energy trading subsidiary. It covers the whole range of energy underlyings - natural gas, power, oil and refined products, coal and carbon emissions - and ranks among the leaders of Europe's gas traded markets.

About GRTgaz:
GRTgaz is responsible for operating, maintaining and developing a natural gas transmission system in France more than 31,700 km long. GRTgaz is a Gaz de France subsidiary.
In a changing European market, GRTgaz has a dual role: 

• to transport natural gas to customers at optimum cost and in maximum safety
• to support the opening up of the French natural gas market by making the transmission system and the associated services available to all licensed operators, without discrimination.

Gaz de France Press contact:
Célestine Fauche
Tel : +331 47 54 24 43
E-mail: celestine-externe.fauche@gazdefrance.com

GRTgaz Press contact:
Christophe Feuillet
Tel : +331 47 54 23 68
E-mail: christophe.feuillet@grtgaz.com