naturgas

2009/11/13

About 300 executives from the world’s gas industry set to meet in Bilbao during the EAGC 2009

• On 24 and 25 November, hosted by Naturgas Energía and EDP Gas, and with top figures from the sector attending

Bilbao, 13 November 2009.- The 24th European Autumn Gas Conference (EAGC), Europe’s most well-known and longest-running one, will be held at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC) from 24 to 25 November 2009, and be hosted by Naturgas Energía and EDP Gas.

The event, scheduled to be attended by about 300 representatives of the sector from over 20 countries, is aiming to debate the challenges, opportunities and concerns of the European gas sector.

The speakers taking part in the inaugural session include: José Luis Bilbao, Head of the Provincial Council of Biscay; Bernabé Unda Barturen, Minister for Industry, Innovation, Trade and Tourism of the Basque Autonomous Community Government; Antonio Hernandez Garcia, Director General of Energy Policy and Mines of the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade; Joao Manso Neto, Chairman of EDP Gas and Vice-Chairman of Naturgas Energía; and Fernando Bergasa Cáceres, CEO of Naturgas Energía. Maite Costa, who chairs the National Energy Commission, will be speaking during the second session.

The main subject: “Independence and Interdependence in European Gas”.

The two-day conference with the slogan “Independence and Interdependence in European Gas,” will be looking, in particular, at issues relating to the independence and interdependence of the European gas industries and markets. This aspect is crucial for Naturgas Energía, which is participating in Euskadour, one of the two infrastructures currently connecting the Iberian Peninsula with Europe.

European gas interconnections is an issue of great importance in countries like Spain, which is a leading international destination for gas imports owing to the numerous re-gasification terminals located on its coast. The Iberian Peninsula has in fact one of the most diversified markets as it receives gas from ten different sources.

Supply security; renewables and their relation with gas; European projects in the gas area; as well as the importance of the sector in the global economy will also be at the centre of the debate.

All things considered, the event is set to be a reflection conducted out loud on the future of the gas market in Europe.

Details:

Event: 24th European Autumn Gas Conference (EAGC)
Dates: Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 November 2009
Venue: Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC), Bilbao, Spain
Hosts: Naturgas Energía and EDP Gas
Organisers: dmg world media (uk) ltd
Further information: www.theeagc.com & info@theeagc.com

Grupo Naturgas Energía

Naturgas Energía supplies gas and electricity to companies and private customers, and is present with its own infrastructure in eight Autonomous Communities or regions: Basque Country, Asturias, Catalonia, Castile & León, Extremadura, Madrid, Murcia and Navarre. The Group, the second gas distributor on the Spanish market, is a gas carrier, too, and also markets gas and electricity.

Naturgas Energía is the leader in gas in the Basque Country and Asturias, and the second electricity operator in the Basque Country. With a turnover of 1,333 million euros in 2008 and a net profit of 131 million, it is supported by a gas pipeline network of nearly 6,000 km, and is part of Hc Energía, in the EDP Group.

The company recently reached an agreement with Gas Natural to purchase its assets in four autonomous communities or regions for 330 million euros, which include the gas distribution companies in Cantabria and Murcia.