GRTgaz and Powernext, with the support of the French regulator CRE, have decided to launch the first market coupling service between GRTgaz’s PEG North and PEG South (Point d’Echange de Gaz in French or Title Transfer Point) on 1st July 2011. This service will help enhancing the efficiency and fluidity of the natural gas market in France. By partially merging the Powernext order books of GRTgaz’s North and South zones, it will favour price convergence between the two “PEGs”, improve the liquidity and reinforce the attractiveness of the French market. GRTgaz will directly contribute to this service by making available part of its North/South transmission capacity through the Spread PEG Sud/PEG Nord contract launched successfully by Powernext on 25 May 2011. Successfully introduced in the electricity sector since late 2006, this coupling initiative represents a premiere in the European gas sector.