"HubCo - North West European Hub Service Company" today has published the Hub Customer Services Agreement at the website www.nwehub.com. The Agreement was designed for the new gas trading hub between Bunde and Emden. At an industry meeting on 16 September the HubCo concept, the Hub Customer Services Agreement and a tailor made Trading Agreement for the hub will be presented and discussed.

HubCo Joint Venture partners have received comments and suggestions on the development of hub services from international trading companies which have been consulted throughout the project phase.

The main distinguishing feature in relation to other hub concepts is the development of a fully integrated trading area between Bunde and Emden with its nine inlet and outlet points.

The service concept includes matching of trade notifications for both physical transfers and paper trades, order tracking, handling of transportation matters with network operators and a back-up service.

Further Information:
HubCo - North West European Hub Service Company
Neuer Markt 27-29
42781 Haan
Germany

BEB Erdgas und Erdöl GmbH, Corporate Communications,
Tel.: +49 (0)511 / 641 2140, Fax: +49 (0)511 / 641 10 05
E-mail: thomas.fischer@beb.de
Riethorst 12, 30659 Hanover, Germany

E.ON Ruhrgas AG, Corporate Communications,
Tel.: +49 (0)201 / 184 44 64, Fax: +49 (0)201 / 184 43 51
E-mail: christian.drepper@eon-ruhrgas.com
Huttropstr. 60, 45138 Essen, Germany

Statoil Public Affairs Division,
Tel.:+47 51 99 13 77, Fax: +47 51 99 3604
E-mail: trumaas@statoil.com
Forus Been 50, 4035 Stavanger, Norway

Companies wanting to trade gas at the new Bunde/Emden hub operated by HubCo will be able to make use of the "Emden Bunde Trading Terms and Conditions: EBT2002" A team of experts from BEB, E.ON Ruhrgas, Statoil and WINGAS has drafted these terms together with a group of other market participants as an offer to all gas trading companies. The trading terms are now available on the Internet under www.nwehub.com/publications.

The Emden Bunde Trading Terms and Conditions ("EBT2002") are designed for the specifics of the Bunde/Emden Hub and geared to HubCo's Hub Customer Services Agreement ("HCSA") - similar to the concept at the Zeebrugge Hub. Accordingly, both the EBT2002 and the HCSA will be governed by German law. The general clauses of EBT2002 are based on the trading terms ZBT2001 and NBP97 used in the marketplace. In addition certain improvements have been made not least to take account of the latest market developments, e.g. increased sensitivity regarding credit risk. To this end, some provisions of the EFET General Agreement for Gas have been adopted as well. The alignment of EBT2002 with HubCo's Hub Customer Services Agreement will ensure a high level of legal certainty for traders. Moreover, the standard trading terms and conditions will provide a simple basis for market access; no further bilateral negotiations being needed. Interested market participants are invited to Essen on September 16th where the basic principles of EBT 2002 will be presented during a joint industry meeting with HubCo.