Edison SpA (EDN.MI), a leading Italian energy company in which Electricite de France SA (EDF.FR) is the majority shareholder, Monday said its first-half net loss narrowed thanks to the positive performance in the exploration and production operations, although margins remain weak for natural gas and electricity.

The Milan-based company confirmed it estimates 2012 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or Ebitda, at between EUR1.1 billion and EUR1.2 billion.