Rio, July 24, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES) will provide R$ 86.6 million in financing for the installation of a thermoelectric plant using natural gas, with capacity to generate 226 megawatts, in the municipality of Ibirité (MG). The Ibiritermo project, a company formed specifically for this purpose and controlled in equal parts by Petrobras and Edison S p A, a Fiat subsidiary, envisions a total investment of R$ 623 million, which corresponds to a leverage 7.1 times the amount of funds the bank will make available. (DAS)