Platts & Interfax Announce Launch of 'EnergoScan-Interfax & Platts,' A New Weekly Informational Bulletin on Russian Utilities Sector

Moscow, November 24 (ots/PRNewswire) -

Platts, a leading global provider of energy and commodities
information and a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP),
today announced it is joining forces with Interfax Information
Services Group, a leading source of real-time business news from
Russia and the CIS, to launch EnergoScan-Interfax & Platts
(http://www.energoscan.ru), a new Russian-language publication
serving the needs of Russia's energy, business, and financial
communities.

"The Russian government's decision to deregulate some energy
prices by the use of exchanges has spurred an unprecedented demand
for timely information on energy markets both inside and outside the
Russia/FSU region," said Ekaterina Troshinkina, Platts Russia/FSU
Regional Business Manager. "This transition has spawned the need for
EnergoScan-Interfax & Platts, which we believe will meet the demands
from energy producers and users, alike, for reliable, timely news and
physical market price information across the entire energy spectrum."

As the region's energy pricing becomes more market driven,
correlations between Russia's energy prices and existing European and
global benchmarks are expected to narrow. And via EnergoScan-Interfax
& Platts, the region's fuel buyers and traders will now have access
to not only weekly averages of Platts price assessments of Russian
Urals crude oil, Russian High Sulfur Fuel Oil, and diesel and
gasoline, but also to key regional and European price assessments in
electric power, natural gas, coal and petroleum products.

"EnergoScan-Interfax & Platts aims to be an essential business
resource by helping industry participants make better, informed
trading and investment decisions and facilitating greater
transparency and efficiency in markets," Troshinkina said.

In addition to current and historical price data from Platts, the
new electronically-delivered weekly will include news, surveys,
supply and demand fundamentals, commentary and more on the region's
integrated power generation market.

"As the region's leading real-time source of business news, we're
pleased to join forces with Platts, the recognized global leader in
benchmark pricing, to offer this unique business tool at such an
important time in Russia's energy market evolution," said Yuri
Pogorely, Deputy General Director, Financial & Business Information
Services of the Interfax Group.

Established in 1989, Interfax Group brings together a network of
national, regional and specialized news agencies operating throughout
Russian and other CIS countries, as well as in China and Central
Europe. Co-headquartered in Moscow and London, Interfax provides more
than 100 services to companies, banks, financial market participants,
investors, media organizations and government agencies. These include
news, stock market information, analysis, databases, ratings, credit
reports and IR services.

For more information on EnergoScan-Interfax & Platts or to
subscribe, contact Platts in Moscow by calling +7(495)-783-41-49,
faxing +7(495)-783-4142, e-mailing info_ru@platts.com, or online at
http://www.energoscan.ru.

About Platts:

Platts, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), is a
leading global provider of energy and commodities information. With
nearly a century of business experience, Platts serves customers
across more than 150 countries. From 17 offices worldwide, Platts
serves the oil, natural gas, electricity, nuclear power, coal,
emissions, petrochemical, shipping and metals markets. Platts' real
time news, pricing, analytical services, and conferences help markets
operate with transparency and efficiency. Traders, risk managers,
analysts, and industry leaders depend upon Platts to help them make
better trading and investment decisions. Additional information is
available at http://www.platts.com.

ots Originaltext: Platts
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Russia: Ekaterina Troshinkina, Platts, +7-985-7647970,
Ekaterina_troshinkina@platts.com or Galina Vorontsova, Platts,
+7-495-783-4092, galina_vorontsova@platts.com or Yuri Pogorely,
Interfax, +7-985-920-66-06, yp@interfax.ru; U.S.: Kathleen Tanzy,
+1-212-904-2860, Kathleen_tanzy@platts.com