<p>Gaz de France (GDF) also commented that its exploration and production activities had enjoyed the full benefits of a buoyant energy business environment during the year. GDF said that it had made numerous operational advances in 2006, including strengthening its supply, exploration and production operations, as well as its LNG infrastructures and electricity operations. <br /><br />These activities were augmented through a number of contracts, including the December 2006 agreements with Gazprom that will extend existing contracts until 2030 and cover 140 billion cubic meters of gas. The company also invested E4 billion into its operations in 2006, an increase of 38% compared to the previous year.<br /><br />Jean-Francois Cirelli, GDF&#0039;s chairman and CEO, commented: All of the group&#0039;s business lines contribute to the 2006 results which reflect, to this day, the best operational performance ever achieved by Gaz de France. <br /><br />GDF is also improving its shareholder returns, and the board plans to propose a dividend of E1.10 euros per share, an increase of 62% over 2005. <br /><br />GDF revealed that, as winter 2006 to 2007 will have been the warmest winter in over 50 years, the business and market prices in the first few months of 2007 will have been impacted. The company said that, as a result, 2007 will be a year of consolidation, with EBITDA levels in line with those of 2006, which stood at E5.15 billion. <br /><br />GDF concluded that the changes in European energy policy and the sector consolidation that accelerated in 2006 have proved further incentives for the group&#0039;s planned merger with Suez.</p>