This Summary of Project Information is prepared and distributed to the public in advance of the IFC Board of Directors’ consideration of the proposed transaction. Its purpose is to enhance the transparency of IFC’s activities, and this document should not be construed as presuming the outcome of the Board decision. Board dates are estimates only.
Summary of Project Information (SPI)
Project number 24162
Project nameDistrigazSud
CountryRomania
SectorUtilities
DepartmentInfrastructure
Company nameRomania Gas Holding
Environmental categoryB
Date SPI disclosedApril 25, 2005
Projected board dateMay 26, 2005
StatusActive
Previous EventsInvested: February 1, 2006
Signed: June 24, 2005
Approved: June 9, 2005

Project sponsor and major shareholders of project company
The project sponsor is GdF. Under the envisaged shareholding structure by the sponsor, the Government of Romania will own directly 49% of DGS, with GdF, IFC and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) owning indirectly through a holding company 40.8%, 5.1% and 5.1% respectively of DGS.

Total project cost and proposed IFC investment
The total 2005-2012 investment program is estimated at EUR 277 million. The proposed IFC investment is estimated at EUR 31 million equity.

Location of project and description of site
DGS operates through its head office in Bucharest and 11 regional branches. DGS’ gas distribution and supply activities cover 20 counties serving an area of 100,000 sq. km with a total population of 11 million.

Description of company and purpose of project
Distrigaz Sud (DGS) is the dominant gas distribution and supply company in southern Romania. In 2004, the Government of Romania (GOR) signed a privatization agreement for the sale of a 51 percent interest in DGS to Gaz de France (GdF), the leading supplier and distributor of natural gas in France and one of the largest gas utilities in Europe. The privatization closing is expected to occur soon. IFC's investment in Distrigaz Sud will support the company's 2005-2012 investment program aimed at upgrading and expanding the company's distribution network.

Environmental and social issues - Category B
The following environmental and social issues were reviewed and summarized in the Environmental Review Summary:

- Corporate Environmental Management Program;
- Environmental Compliance;
- Environmental Benefits of Natural Gas; and
- Human Resources.

To view the environmental documents for this project, click here


Location of environmental documents in locally affected community
The Environmental Review Summary (ERS) is available at the following locations:
- Distrigaz Sud: Boulevard Marasesti Nr. 4-6, Sector 4, Bucharest, Romania
- IFC: Boulevard Dacia 83, Sector 2, Bucharest, Romania

To contact the project company, please write to:
Ms. Valérie Ruiz-Domingo :
Gaz de France, 23 Rue Philibert Delorme,
75840 Paris cedex 17 – France ;
email :valerie.ruiz-domingo@gazdefrance.com ;
tel : +33-1-47543556.