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Renewables power earnings at Spain's Naturgy in spite of lower gas prices

Spanish power business Naturgy's profit increased more than 20% in 2015, pounding analyst expectations, as a strong performance in renewables helped offset lower prices and a dip in demand that hit its gas business.

Net earnings rose to 1.99 billion euros ($ 2.16 billion) from 1.65 billion euros in 2022, beating analysts' average estimate of 1.94 billion euros in an LSEG survey.

Core incomes - before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation - jumped 41% at the renewables organization, driven by the business's home market of Spain.

However that was partly balanced out by a downturn in the gas company, and the company did not offer guidance for this year due to the extreme volatility of energy markets and weather condition.

Incomes from melted gas (LNG) operations declined sharply in the second half of 2023, RBC expert Fernando Garcia stated.

Taking a look at the year ahead, the performance of the gas business will be essential, he added.

Naturgy shares were down 0.8% around 1400 GMT.

Chief Executive Officer Francisco Reynes said the solid. results showed the company had actually successfully browsed an unstable. duration with falling rates.

The business has a long-term agreement to import some 3. billion cubic metres (bcm) of Russian LNG every year, an. arrangement it is obliged to honour, Reynes said, regardless of Europe's. drive to shun Russian energy over the war in Ukraine.

Since the start of the war we have not bought a single. kilowatt more than what our agreement states and for that reason we have. not benefited from this situation, he informed reporters.

Spain, in addition to Belgium and France, is the biggest. importer of Russian LNG.

Investors will receive a dividend of 1.40 euros a share. for 2023, in line with a policy aimed at assuaging investors by. increasing the dividend flooring through 2025 while cutting. expected investment.

(source: Reuters)