Santo Domingo.- In a regular manner Itabo, through its international port in Haina, has provided port services and for the storage of materials and fuels with diverse companies, including the Mexican cement company (CEMEX).

Last week CEMEX imported 53,000 tons of solid fuel through said harbor. Upon the retrieval of the fuel, personal from both companies were able to note the removal by confusion of 644 metric tons of Coke, property of ITABO, which were immediately returned to Itabo.

The fact of returning a product, as occurs in all commercial business activity, constitutes the correct practice, and in adherence to the laws as should be expected of the best practices of this company, which by the way, is controlled by and subject to the U.S. Securities Commission, and to abiding by the Law on Corrupt Practices Abroad.

Itabo has never incurred, neither in the present nor in the past as has been sought to portray, in some action contrary to the laws which govern customs or fiscal matters. It is inferred that the Customs Agency was surprised in its good faith when it received information on the facts which aren’t based on reality.

Elements which make us reach such conclusion are: i) the fact that the fuel referred to was being transferred and being deposited in Itabo, as corresponds in adherence to the law, while in an attempt to confuse, that the same had been directed to CEMEX.

II) Right at the moment when the DGA issues an official public statement accusing Itabo of fuel contraband, representatives of the DGA were still in the facilities at Itabo, gathering information to sustain their investigation, reason why the judgment and/or summary sentence published by the DGA was dictated before concluding the corroboration process.

III) Still more, on the morning of July 7, 2009, the day after the publication of the imputation against ITABO, is when it issued the tariff liquidation undated by the operating department in this case is received, for ONE MILLION PESOS, of which barely THREE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND PESOS correspond to the liquidation of taxes for which it accuses Itabo of trying to embezzle from the Dominican state treasury.

Itabo will resort to the routes which the law establishes, said liquidation, in defense of the good reputation that Itabo has constructed and that is the support of international and local commitments that assumes in front of the financial world.

Finally, Itabo confides that the recognized capacity and objectivity that distinguish the professional trajectory of the gentleman General Customs Director will do the correct application of the law once the facts that surround this regrettable questioning to the best corporative practices are clarified.

Itabo is a company of mixed capital where the State, through Fonper owns 50% of its shares, which has been contributing significantly to the electrical sector, with important savings for the country in electricity production, demonstration exemplary efficiency where the State and the private sector join their efforts for a better country for all.