PRESS RELEASE

Bucharest, April 7, 2010

March 2010: End of quarter with three new companies admitted on OPCOM markets, Vienna Energy Forta Naturala (CMGC), Energy Financing Team Romania (CMGC) and ICCO Energy Supply (DAM) and a quarterly amount of almost 3 TWh according to the commitments with next day delivery (DAM) and forward deliveries (CMBC)

DAM: With a share of almost 13.70% of the traded volume out of the domestic consumption, March 2010 contributes to the setting of spot transactions in the first quarter for the first time above 14% of the domestic consumption, while the number of active participants reaches for the second consecutive month the absolute record of 72 from a total of 102 companies registered to the market.

The spot transactions set in March 2010 increased over the same period of the previous year by almost 10%, the total volume increasing from 593,800.464 MWh last year to 649,265.564 MWh in March 2010, respectively in hourly average values from 799.193 MWh/h to 873.843 MWh/h.

The average price increased from 128.44 lei/MWh (29.98 EUR/MWh) in March 2009 to 157.58 lei/MWh (38.53 EUR/MWh) in March 2010, the variation being of 23% in local currency, respectively 29% in the single European currency. The monthly average values corresponding to the hourly electricity transactions set in the European spot markets were placed in March 2010 in a range between 19 EUR/MWh and 63 EUR/MWh, the average price set by OPCOM, 38.53 EUR/MWh, being with almost 6% below the European average, about 41 EUR/MWh.

For March 2010, a total of 72 of the 102 registered participants were active and the submitted bids were materialized this month in hourly transactions that varied in a range between 487 MWh/h and 1,348 MWh/h, 23% out of the 743 total volumes traded hourly being above 1,000 MWh/h. The volume statistics show transactions amounting at least 650 MWh/h (equivalent to almost 10% of hourly average consumption) in 91% of the hourly intervals of the month. These statistics also show that only one hourly interval had total transactions of less than 500 MWh/h.

There were no problems in meeting the commitments of payment according to terms provided, the total payment obligations/rights of collection for the spot transactions amounting, including VAT, 122.8 million lei (30 million EUR), out of which the payments made in two banking days represented 116.6 million lei (28.5 million EUR), the difference representing the amount of compensation between participants and OPCOM as central counterparty.

This year’s cumulative values until 31^st of March 2010 indicate, as quarterly benchmarking, an increase of the average volume traded hourly, respectively from an hourly average of 728.845 MWh/h in the first quarter of 2009 to an hourly average of 914.648 MWh/h in January-March this year, the increase being of 25.49%. The market share of the spot transactions related to the domestic consumption has gained almost three percentage points in this quarter, increasing from 11.74% in January-March 2009, to 14.11% in January-March 2010, while the average price increased from 133.46 lei/MWh (31.37 EUR/MWh) to 158.85 lei/MWh (38.57 EUR/MWh).

CMBC and CMBC-CN: A number of 18 contracts in progress in March 2010, amounting an electricity value of 346.110 MWh contracted by public auction on CMBC at a price of 166.95 lei/MWh (39.71 EUR/MWh)

On CMBC platform, for contracts with delivery periods including March 2010, 33 participants expressed their interest, with an average of 6 players/ auction session.

Public auctions’ results for March 2010 show 11 winners and 18 concluded contracts, equivalent to a quantity of electricity of 346,110 MWh set in delivery, at an average price of 166.95 lei/MWh (39.71 EUR/MWh) and representing 7.83% of the estimated consumption for this month.

CMGC: The results of the monthly auction from March 2010 show a number of 25,086 green certificates purchased by the suppliers on OPCOM’s platform in order to fulfil the mandatory quota for 2010, equivalent to a share of about 52% of issued certificates.

In order to fulfil the mandatory quota, in the March 2010 session, 26 participants expressed their interest and 25,086 green certificates were purchased by electricity suppliers at the price of 232.36 lei/certificate (56.80 EUR/certificate, using the exchange rate valid for the trading day, 17^th of March 2010).

In March 2010, the spot transactions alongside the contracts in progress (according to forward transactions), total an electricity amount of 995,376 MWh, both market frameworks providing together about 22% of the estimated consumption for this month.