UPDATE 1-RLPC-KazMunaiGas launches $3.1 bln loan-sources

(Adds source, details, participation fees)

LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - KazMunaiGas [KMG.UL], Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company, has launched syndication of a $3.1 billion loan to a fund a refinery purchase, banking sources told Reuters Loan Pricing Corp (RLPC).

The unsecured bridge loan has a one-year maturity and the margin is 90 basis points (bps) over LIBOR.

The loan has launched to senior syndication, during which two tickets are on offer to lenders. Banks committing $250 million as mandated lead arrangers will receive a participation fee of 85 bps, while those committing $150 million as lead arrangers will receive 65 bps.

A general syndication will follow. A bank meeting for the deal will be held in London on Nov. 5.

ABN AMRO, Credit Suisse and Calyon are arranging the loan, which will finance the acquisition of Romania's Rompetrol.

The Kazakh company bought 75 percent of the Romanian firm in August in a deal estimated by analysts to be worth $2.7 billion, confirming its resolve to move into the lucrative European downstream market.

A source told Reuters earlier this month that KazMunaiGas was considering the acquisition of the other 25 percent of the company.

Rompetrol, which focuses on refining, marketing and trading, is valued at $3.6 billion, according to its auditors. It has a refining capacity of 4 million tonnes and distribution capability of 7 million tonnes annually.

KazMunaiGas had previously tried to gain control of Lithuania's Mazeikiu Nafta MNF1L.VL refinery but was outbid by Polish firm PKN Orlen PKNA.WA last year.