Brussels, 22/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 November, ESB Networks and the European Investment Bank signed a new loan facility which will provide €235 million funding for ESB's ambitious investment programme to develop smarter and more sustainable electricity network infrastructure in Ireland. The loan, from the European Union's long-term lending institution, will provide 50% funding for an investment programme of €470m which is to be delivered by ESB Networks over 2 years. The programme includes key projects to enhance transmission and distribution links from wind farms and to improve the efficiency and capability of the electricity networks to facilitate greater integration of renewable energy sources. It also includes the technical design phase of a national smart metering programme, and the initial phase of installation of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across Ireland. (OL/transl.jl)