Luxembourg, 09/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) provides a EUR 80 million loan to finance the renovation and extension of electricity transmission and distribution facilities located throughout Estonia that will be undertaken by Eesti Energia AS over the next three years. The investments will, amongst others, contribute to: reducing operational and maintenance costs; accommodating the expected electricity demand growth in the residential sector; and, in the international context, support Eesti Energia's strategic objective to further increase its co-operation with the actors in the electricity markets in the neighbouring countries. As a first time for infrastructure operations in Estonia, the EIB loan is not signed on a sovereign basis (State borrowing or guarantee) but directly with Eesti Energia in recognition of Eesti Energia's own financial strength and credit-worthiness.