Luxembourg, 29/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a loan of USD 372 million, for the construction of the first tranche of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Idku, some 40 km east of Alexandria. This loan, one of the EIB's largest ever, is being provided under the "Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership” (FEMIP). The borrower, El Behera Natural Gas Liquefaction Company, is a joint venture of major international gas groups: British Gas (35.5%), Petronas (35.5%) and Gaz de France (5%) with the public sector Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation - EGPC (12%), and Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company - EGAS (12%). The gas comes from the West Delta Deep Marine concession and will be exported through a 20-year take-or-pay agreement with Gaz de France.