Over 12 months of 2009, the Joint Stock Company „Latvijas Gāze” (hereinafter
-
LG) sold to consumers 1.49 billion m3 of natural gas. In comparison to
2008,
natural gas sales have decreased by 8.5%. 

The decrease of demand
stems from the mild weather conditions and the economic
recession in Latvia,
which resulted in part of customers either terminating
their activity or
limiting consumption. Natural gas consumption was also
influenced by the
varied natural gas price over the course of the year. In the
first half, the
natural gas price was higher, whereas in the second half -
lower if compared
to the overall tendencies in the European market. Low natural
gas prices in
the second half of the year were ensured by reserves at the
Inčukalns
Underground Gas Storage Facility, purchased in summer when the
natural gas
prices were low throughout Europe. During the heating season, when
other
countries experienced a rise of prices, Latvia consumed the
previously
purchased natural gas available from the storage facility. Over the
year from
January thru December, the tariffs for households on heating
decreased by 27%,
whereas those for industrial consumers - by 36% on average.


In 2009, LG sold natural gas and provided services for LVL 330 million,
which
is by 13% less than in 2008. The reduction of net turnover stems from
the
changes in the natural gas sale price and volume. 

During 2009, LG took
a number of measures to ensure for the shareholders a
profit at the level of
2008 in the case of falling demand. LG introduced new
standards for operation
of the gas supply system and reorganized the structure
by reducing the number
of employees by 9.2%. Working under the circumstances of
crisis, additional
financial and material resources were shifter for natural
gas sales and
billing control, reducing the funding for the provision of new
connections,
advertising and marketing purposes. The same as in previous years,
the
financing of measures related to system security were set as priority.
There
were also savings due to more favourable prices and the increased
competition
in outsourced services purchased via tenders. 

 The Company's net
profitability of business activity in 2009 was 6%, and LG
completed the year
with a net profit of LVL 20 million, which did not
significantly to that of
2008, still it was by LVL 12 million lower than in
2007. In 2009, the profit
from economic activity diminished compared to 2008,
while other financial
income grew. 

LVL 73 million were paid in taxes and duties in
2009.

Within the framework of the capital investment programme, LVL 17
million were
taken up over 12 months of 2009. 32% of the total investment were
spent on the
improvement of operation security and the modernization of
equipment at the
Inčukalns UGS, 33% - on the modernization and repair of the
gas transmission
pipeline system, and 30% - on the extension of the
distribution networks and
the renewal of existing fixed assets. 

Vinsents
Makaris
Phone + (371) 67 369 144
E-mail: IR@lg.lv