27/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - EIB loan of €80 million to upgrade electricity transmission system in Portugal. On Wednesday 25 November, the European Investment Bank (EIB) granted the first tranche - of €80 million - of a €200 million loan to Portuguese operator Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) in support of its multi-component investment programme covering the period 2014-2019. This programme includes renewable energy connections and the reinforcement and upgrading of the Portuguese electricity transmission network. The programme is geographically dispersed throughout mainland Portugal and it is expected that the majority of investments will be in areas designated as convergence regions. (EH)