Moldovan Ciment gets special concession

Moldovan cement producer Ciment, owned by a French building materials group
Lafarge, has become the first local company to receive a special electricity
consumer status under a decision of the National Agency for Energy
Regulation on January 21, 2004. Following the liberalisation of the domestic electric power market selected large consumers can choose their suppliers among Moldovan or foreign energy
providers. Ciment was the first to comply with all requirements to qualify for the
special consumer status, including the demand to clear the debts to its
former energy supplier RED Nord.

Ciment will seek to buy cheaper electricity from the current price of 0.55
Moldovan leu ($0.043/0.034 euro) it pays RED Nord, whereas the majority of
local consumers pay 0.78 leu ($0.061/0.048 euro), because of the power
consuming cement production, the company said.