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Paris, May 22, 2008 – Gaz de France has been informed of the European Commission's decision to open formal proceedings for continued potential infringements of the Community's competition rules.

The initiation of proceedings does not imply that the European Commission – as it admits itself – has conclusive proof of any infringement.

Gaz de France would like to specify that, since the deregulation of the gas market, the supply of natural gas in France has seen the emergence of a large number of competitors. Forty-four gas shippers currently operate on the wholesale market in France. These players enjoy access to the different infrastructures owned by Gaz de France or its subsidiaries under transparent and non-discriminatory conditions. Should the competitors of Gaz de France feel that they are subject to any discriminatory behaviour on the part of Gaz de France or its subsidiaries, they enjoy the possibility to refer the matter to the Commission for Energy Regulation and/or the authorities responsible for ensuring compliance with the community's competition rules. At present, no complaint for anticompetitive conduct has been lodged with these bodies.

The suspicions of the European Commission also extend to gas import agreements signed by Gaz de France; these contracts make it possible to ensure that France enjoys reliable supplies of natural gas.

The know-how developed by Gaz de France in the area of gas procurement is also an advantage for consumers within a context of higher prices charged for fossil fuels and the greater geographical remoteness of resources.

Lastly, the development of gas infrastructures in France has been substantially speeded up in recent years. In 2007, the aggregate expenditure in this area of the different entities and subsidiaries of Gaz de France reached a total of €1.5 billion. This investment was decided on the basis of market needs as identified independently by the infrastructure administrators themselves.

Confident of its conduct in this area, Gaz de France will provide the European Commission with its full cooperation in the pursuit of its inquiry.

Group profile:

Gaz de France Group is a major energy player in Europe. As the leading natural gas distributor in Europe, Gaz de France employs almost 50,000 employees and generated €27 billion in sales in 2007. The Group holds a portfolio of some 14 million clients, approximately 11 million of which are in France. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Gaz de France is also part of the CAC 40 and Dow Jones Stoxx 600 indices.

Press Contact:

Jérôme Chambin

Tel.: 33-1 47 54 24 35

E-mail: jerome.chambin@gazdefrance.com