ESSEN, Germany, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- To further expand its LNG business, Essen-based E.ON Ruhrgas AG has opened a representative office in Algeria. The aim is to make further progress in long-term imports of Algerian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and its marketing in Europe. For this purpose, the company is banking above all on cooperation with the Algerian state-owned company Sonatrach.

"In future, LNG is to supplement our traditional gas supply portfolio, thus contributing to security of supply for our customers throughout Europe. Algeria is a strategically important partner in this respect," said Dr. Jochen Weise, member of the E.ON Ruhrgas AG Board of Management responsible for worldwide gas supply and trading.

LNG, which is transported by tanker, is increasingly important for European gas supply. Its present share of approx. 10 % in EU gas supplies is expected to rise to approx. 18 % by 2020. In February 2008, E.ON Ruhrgas AG succeeded in embarking on the first integrated LNG project in Equatorial Guinea in West Africa. In addition, the company is planning other LNG projects, for instance in Nigeria, and is involved in projects for various LNG regasification plants. In the medium term, it is also intended to open a representative office in Libya.

E.ON Ruhrgas AG Corporate Communications Huttropstr. 6045138 EssenGermany http://www.eon-ruhrgas.com T: +49-201-1-84-4464 F: +49-201-1-84-4351 presse@eon-ruhrgas.com

E.ON Ruhrgas AG, Corporate Communications, Huttropstr. 6045138 Essen, Germany, http://www.eon-ruhrgas.com, T: +49-201-1-84-4464, F: +49-201-1-84-4351presse@eon-ruhrgas.com