Ram Power closes US$160m financing for San Jacinto-Tizate
ThermaSource drilling rig on project site at San Jacinto, Nicaragua (source: Ram Power)
Alexander Richter
8 Nov 2010
Ram Power Corp closes US$160m debt financing for the Phase II expansion of the San Jacinto-Tizate geothermal project in Nicaragua, of which $140m are senior construction and term loans and $20m in subordinated debt.
In a release by the company, “Ram Power, Corp. announces the closing of a $160 million debt financing for the Phase II expansion of the San Jacinto-Tizate geothermal power project. The financing consists of $140 million in senior construction and term loans and $20 million in subordinated debt which is available for Project contingencies and for general corporate purposes. The financing was structured by International Finance Corporation (“IFC”), a member of the World Bank Group. The consortium of lenders includes IFC, the Inter-American Development Bank (“IDB”), Central American Bank for Economic Integration (“CABEI”), Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (“DEG”), Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (“FMO”), Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG (“OeEB”) and Societe de Promotion et Participation pour la Cooperation Economique (“PROPARCO”).
The Project is currently the largest geothermal construction project in Central America. The proceeds from this debt financing together with equity previously invested fully funds the completion of the Project. The initial drawdown under the financing is expected to occur in December 2010.
As previously disclosed, the phased expansion of the Project is designed to increase production from the current 10 MW to 46 MW in the first half of 2011 (Phase I). The 46 MW capacity will be expanded to 72 MW in the latter part of 2011 (Phase II). There is a long-term power purchase agreement in place with a subsidiary of Gas Natural Fenosa, a Spanish utility. The expansion will bring state of the art geothermal technology to an existing utility-scale power facility that will supply low cost geothermal energy to the region.
In connection with the Phase II financing, CABEI and FMO have assumed the Phase I commitments and loans of Export Development Canada, and Corporacion Interamericana para el Financiamiento de Infraestructura, S.A. has acquired the Phase I commitments and loans of Cordiant Capital which are being made available under a “B” Loan structure from CABEI. In addition, the parties have entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement in order to more closely align the Phase I and Phase II financing terms.
Bernie Sheahan, IFC Director for Infrastructure in Latin America said, “The San Jacinto project, one of IFC’s first investments in a vertically integrated geothermal power project, furthers our regional development strategy. Its successful implementation has great significance for Central America, which could increase its renewable energy generation significantly by developing geothermal resources which are cleaner and cheaper than existing alternatives.”
“The Second Phase financing for the San Jacinto-Tizate project represents a significant milestone for Nicaragua, and the government of Nicaragua is fully supportive of this project as part of our plan to transform the energy matrix and become independent from oil derivatives in the generation of energy,” stated Emilio Rappaccioli, Minister of Energy and Mines of Nicaragua. “The project represents one of the largest geothermal projects in Central America, and will provide clean, reliable energy to the people of Nicaragua long into the future.”
Hezy Ram, CEO of Ram Power, said “The San Jacinto-Tizate Phase II credit facility signing represents yet another milestone in Ram Power’s plan to provide clean geothermal energy to Nicaragua. We want to thank the Phase II project lenders for their continued confidence in Ram Power’s project development team and in the San Jacinto-Tizate geothermal power project.”
Greentech Capital Advisors, an investment advisory firm focused exclusively on the alternative energy and cleantech sectors, and PAF Securities, an investment advisory firm specializing in the Latin American and Caribbean markets, acted as financial advisors to Ram Power.”
Source: Release via Marketwatch
