Spanish Tile Producers Buy Gas Company

Castellón, Spain, December 20, 2005-- In Spain, a group of 24 companies representing around 50 companies, most of which are tile-producing companies from the province of Castellon, completed the acquisition of 70 per cent of small gas firm Incogas through firm Encersa, according to El Pais. Incogas, which is based in the Spanish region of Murcia, plans to supply more than half of the gas used by the kilns of the Castellon tiling industry, which accounts for the vast majority of the Spanish tiling sector. Fernando Roig, who promoted the initiative, has said that once its current contract with leading gas group Gas Natural expires in April, Encersa would be able to secure its gas supplies from Incogas. According to Mr Roig, Encersa Ceramica has been created to bring an end to the 'monopoly' currently exercised by Gas Natural. A spokesman for Gas Natural, meanwhile, has welcomed the creation of the new company and expressed regret at the frequent accusations of monopoly power levelled at the firm by the tile sector.