GEOPLIN D.O.O. LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA, A NEW MEMBER OF EUROGAS

24 July 2006

Geoplin, the main Slovenian gas company has recently joined Eurogas with full membership. Geoplin purchases gas from gas producers and sells it to a large number of commercial and industrial customers and local distribution companies in Slovenia.

Founded in 1975, the company is based in the city of Ljubljana and is one of the oldest natural gas utilities for wholesale of natural gas in Slovenia, providing also natural gas related services to customers.

Natural gas is an important source of energy for Slovenia, currently meeting more than 13% of the national primary energy needs. It gas is supplied to Slovenia via transit routes from Russia, Algeria and Austria on a long-term contract basis. Supplies from other sources are based on short-term contracts.

The company has implemented the European Gas Directive (Directive 2003/55/EC) establishing conditions for an internal gas market and has initiated the process of legal unbundling of commercial from transmission activities. In 2004, Geoplin established a daughter company, Geoplin plinovodi Ltd. which is performing the function of transmission system operator and manages and develops the natural gas transmission infrastructure.

Geoplin has announced plans to enter in a new investment cycle to meet the increased gas supply demands in Slovenia by building new pipeline connections of different lengths in parts of the country not yet supplied by natural gas.

The company is accredited with ISO standard 14001 for its environmental management system.

Eurogas is happy to welcome Geoplin amongst its members and looks forward to a fruitful cooperation.