UPDATE 1-Andean lender says OKs $2.2 bln for Latin America

* Six countries to receive $2.2. billion in loans

* Loans aimed mainly at infrastructure during downturn (Updates with details of loans, background)

CARACAS Aug 18 (Reuters) - The Andean Development Corporation on Tuesday said it approved $2.2 billion in loans to Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela to offset the effects of the global economic recession.

The bulk of the cash will fund energy generation and transportation projects, with $600 million going to Venezuela for a new power station and $300 million to Peru for a train project in Lima.

The lender says most countries in Latin America will see their economies contract in 2009, while the United Nations estimates the regional economy as a whole will shrink 1.9 percent this year.

Part of the money approved on Thursday will be destined to promote clean energy projects, the Caracas-based lender known as CAF said in a statement.

"The money approved responds to the priorities established by the partner countries in terms of social development, decentralization, infrastructure and the environment," said CAF President Enrique Garcia.

CAF, which has 17 partners from Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, did not give details of the credit terms.

Ecuador, which largely depends on multilateral lenders like CAF after defaulting on $3.3 billion of global bonds last year, will receive $250 million to improve its electrical grid.

Colombia is set to receive $400 million for political decentralization and Argentina will receive $275 million for water treatment program in Buenos Aires.