Luxembourg, 25/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) is to grant a long term loan of EUR 60 million for the restoration and modernisation of the Bulgarian electricity transport network. The loan was signed on 21 November in Sofia with the Bulgarian Finance and Energy Ministers. Intended for the Bulgarian energy company, NEK, it will serve to finance an investment programme aimed at maintaining the reliability and the capacity of the country's electricity carriage system. It will thus be possible to replace equipment that has come to the end of its operational life and to increase the reliability of electricity supplies to Bulgarian consumers while reducing distribution losses. Since 1990, the EIB has lent around EUR 18 billion to support projects by the ten countries of Central Europe applying for EU membership, including EUR 1 billion for Bulgaria.