Rila Gas Company has a license for 35 years for the supply and distribution of gas in western Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Sandanski, Vratsa, Radomir Dupnitza Municipality.

UniCredit Bulbank and Rila Gas signed a contract for a loan at the amount of EUR 40 million for financing the gasification of Western Bulgaria. Rila Gas, a subsidiary of the Italian AceGas APS, won the tender announced by the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission in 2006 and from the outset was supported by UniCredit.

At the official signing UniCredit Bulbank was presented by the Chief Operating Officer Andrea Casini and Rila Gas was represented by Cesare Pillon, CEO of AceGas APS.

Rila Gas began to invest in building a distribution network since the beginning of 2010. To date it has made investments for 34 million euro and the remaining amount will be invested over the next two years.

"UniCredit Bulbank is proud to support and stand behind such an important investment as gasification of Western Bulgaria," said Andrea Casini. He said that foreign direct investments are crucial for the country, especially in a difficult economic environment, and infrastructure projects in the region have many additional benefits by creating new jobs and reducing energy costs for the population.

Rila Gas has a license for 35 years for the supply and distribution of gas in Western Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Sandanski, Vratsa, Radomir Dupnitza Municipality. The value of the investment amounts to nearly 60 million.

Rila Gas belongs to the most important multi utility company in Northeastern Italy AceGas APS. The Italian company serves more than one million people and has 320 million net income for the first half of 2012, which is an increase of 10% compared to the first half of last year.

More information for media:

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Magdalena Ivanova, Phone: + 359 2 9232 528, nbhebmfob/jwbopwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch