BG's Energy Challenge event has now raised over £1m since its inception in 1996. This year's event brought together 23 teams from the oil and gas sector, raising £156,500 for the international humanitarian charity, CARE International UK.

This year's Energy Challenge involved teams climbing three mountains in 24 hours; Ben Tee in North West Scotland, Lochnagar near Balmoral and Pike O Blisco in the Lake District. In addition to walking 47 kilometres and climbing 2,160 meters, the teams were required to complete a 10km mountain bike course across Grizedale Forest Park in the Lake District, by way of a warm-up for the last mountain.

Carey Francis, Director of BG Foundation commented, "This event has been a great success for everyone involved. The teams excelled themselves in completing the event and in their fundraising. We are delighted to have exceeded the £1 million target and wish to thank all participants, past and present, for their dedication and effort."

Alex Brooks-Johnson, Challenge Manager for CARE said, "The BG Energy Challenge is always a special event which brings out the best in people. The BG Foundation has been extremely supportive and the funds raised will make a major contribution to our overall fundraising."

Notes to Editors

About BG Group

The BG Group is an integrated gas company, involved in some 20 countries and with expertise in all aspects of the international gas industry. Principal businesses are the exploration and production of gas and oil, liquefied natural gas, transmission and distribution and power generation.

The BG Foundation was formed in 1998 to administer and lead BG Group's corporate social responsibility programme around the world, contributing £6.9 million worldwide to social projects in 2001, of which £2.2 million were voluntary contributions.

Support is targeted on skills transfer, a theme that reflects BG Group's core business and values: our programme focuses on equipping people with personal, technical, commercial and environmental skills to develop a role in their community.

The UK Community Involvement Team administers a 2002 budget of £12,000 to support activities in communities local to BG's operations in Reading and Aberdeen.

About Care International UK
CARE International is a humanitarian organisation working with poor communities to make positive and lasting changes in their lives. Today CARE's work touches the lives of 30 million people in over 60 countries.