• Gas Natural Distribución will add 49 kilometres and close to 5,400 new supply points to its network this year.

According to a statement from the Delegate for Girona of Gas Natural Distribución, Joan Arimany, and the Delegate for New Towns and Infrastructure in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, Robert Gauxax, at a press conference earlier today, GAS NATURAL FENOSA will invest 11.4 million euros in Girona in 2015 through its distribution company, Gas Natural Distribución.

The company will bring a gas supply to seven municipalities - Santa Margarida (Roses), Vilamalla, Darnius, L'Armentera, Cadaqués, Colera and Campllong - and the Golf Girona (Sant Julià de Ramis), Montbarbat (Maçanet de la Selva) and Serra Brava (Lloret de Mar) urbanisations. Gas Natural Distribución will continue its gasification efforts in the municipalities of Riells y Viabrea and Empuriabrava.

This year, the distribution company will strengthen gasification efforts in the Alt Empordà region, where natural gas was first supplied in 2014, and expects to continue expanding its network to reach the highest possible number of municipalities.

The company's investment and marketing efforts will enable around 5,393 new supply points to be added in Girona in 2015. The distribution company will continue to grow over the next few years on the back of initiatives aimed at improving operating efficiency, including, among others, new channelling criteria and innovative facility design.

Most of the planned investment will be earmarked for expanding the distribution network by building 49 new kilometres, while the rest will be spent on renovating the current network.

Investment and expansion in 2014

Through its distribution company, GAS NATURAL FENOSA invested 8.3 million euros in Girona in 2014. These investments were mainly allocated to building new networks, as well as the renovation and improvement of existing infrastructure.
These improvement activities on the network include renovating conduit systems, expanding the existing distribution capacity and strengthening infrastructures to guarantee supply to areas where the service already exists and to meet increasing demand more efficiently.

Last year, the company brought gas to the municipality of d'Empuriabrava, converted propane gas installations in La Jonquera and Can Fornaca (Ruidaneres) to natural gas and built facilities in Les Olletes, in La Vall d'en Bas.

In this regard, the gas distribution company added a total of 4,354 new supply points in Girona to bring the total to 165,757. Sales of regulated gas activity in Girona amounted to 4,013 GWh in 2014.

Furthermore, the power company made major sales efforts to foster connection to the service among potential customers who had a supply available to them but who had not yet contracted the service.

Gas distribution, a key factor for revitalising the economy

Gas distribution activity continues to play a key role in industrial competitiveness and economic revitalisation. The gas sector, currently representing 0.5% of GDP in Spain, generates around 150,000 jobs across the value chain, from transport and distribution to the provision of services to end customers.

The use of natural gas has great potential for growth in Spain, where its penetration rate stands below 30% - lower than the figures in other European countries, such as France (with a rate of over 40%), Italy and the United Kingdom (where these figures are approaching 90%). The penetration rate currently stands at 56% in Catalonia.

Gas Natural Distribution: leader in Spain and Catalonia

Gas Natural Distribución is the leading natural gas distribution company in Spain and Catalonia. In 2014 it grew to over 5.2 million supply points and 48,900 kilometres of distribution network in the 10 autonomous communities where it operates. Investments by the multinational power company - via its natural gas distribution subsidiary - amounted to 335 million euros last year (up 20%), which were mainly allocated to constructing new networks and improving major infrastructures.

In Catalonia the company added 45,331 new supply points in 2014, reaching a total of 2,173,927. The transport and distribution network grew by over 340 kilometres in 2014 and is now 17,178 kilometres.

The company currently supplies natural gas to 76 municipalities in the province of Girona, including seven administrative capitals.

Girona, 10 March 2015.

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