Project Finance News

Fast-growing energy demand is driving the need for technical support and guidance in new locations, writes Terrance Roberts, Manager, Global Business Development, ABS.Surging appetite for natural gas is accelerating the development of global and regional supply chains, with established producers seeking new markets and emerging suppliers looking to meet demand from local consumers.Long-tabled export projects are being fast-tracked for approval in North America while new facilities are under development in Canada and South America.

In accordance with a halt work order issued by the US government, Empire Offshore Wind LLC (Empire) will safely halt the offshore construction in waters of the outer continental shelf for the Empire Wind project.On 16 April, Empire received notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), ordering Empire to halt all activities on the outer continental shelf until BOEM has completed its review.Empire is engaging with relevant authorities to clarify this matter and is considering its legal remedies…

In the last decade, changing U.S. Administrations have become increasingly tumultuous, as the swings in priorities and directives have a real, material impact on business. Read on for insights on the current and future of U.S. Offshore Wind.In the weeks preceding his late January inauguration, then President-elect Donald Trump referred to wind turbines (both onshore and offshore) as “garbage in a field” and described electric power produced through offshore wind as “…the most expensive energy ever…”In the same briefing…

The Shenandoah floating production system (FPS) has been transported to the Gulf of America ahead of wet tow and offshore installation at the Shenandoah deepwater field at Walker Ridge project site, developed by Texas-based exploration and production company Beacon Offshore Energy.On December 13, 2024 the Shenandoah FPS sailed away from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, where it was built.COSCO Shipping and Guangzhou Salvage Heavy Transport (CSGS) delivered the Beacon Offshore Energy’s Shenandoah FPS to Ingleside…

Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) has signed a seven-year loan to co-finance ferry operator Norled AS’ investments in zero and low carbon vessels and related land-based infrastructure in Norway during 2024-2030.The InvestEU program supports the loan under NIBs Framework Operation Green Mobility and Transport approved by the Investment Committee.This NOK 500 million (EUR 43.4 million) loan will help Norled finance the extension of its low-carbon fleet. This is NIB’s first InvestEU loan in Norway.Norway is electrifying its transport network at a rapid pace…

The insolvency of a major storage terminal planned in northwest Europe has supported regional tank storage rates for diesel and gasoline, just as European traders rush to fill up diesel tanks ahead of a Feb. 5 ban on Russian fuel.Earlier this month, the district court in Rotterdam declared the insolvency of the long-delayed HES Hartel Tank Terminal, to be developed in Europe's major trading port of Rotterdam.The terminal would have offered 1.3 million cubic metres of storage capacity for gasoline…

Energy expert and assurance provider DNV has provided Swedish floating wind tech firm Hexicon with a Statement of Feasibility for its TwinWay demonstrator which will be installed and operated at Metacenter, off the coast of Norway. With achieving this first step in the certification process, DNV considers the TwinWay concept feasible for further development towards a full-scale demonstrator.The intention of the TwinWay project is to show proof of concept for Hexicon´s floating wind foundation TwinWind.

Shipping giant Maersk said it has launched its Green Finance Framework designed to allow the company to issue a variety of sustainable financing instruments which may include bonds, loans, project finance and other instruments.“Issuing Green Financing Instruments is a further step to integrating sustainability into our financing operations as it is an effective tool for channeling investments to projects with positive environmental impact and thereby contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement.

Bremen-based ship owning and ship management company Harren Bulkers announced it has acquired its first Handysize bulk carrier. The company's fleet now counts 23 ships.The 37,000 dwt Pabari (ex Western Aida) was built in 2012 at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, in South Korea. With an overall length of 186.96 meters, 28.60-meter beam and 15.6-meter depth molded, Pabari is currently the smallest ship in the Harren Bulkers fleet. The chartering is done by OneBulk from Hamburg.Joachim Zeppenfeld…

Just several months after the launch of Harren Bulkers, three 93,000 tdw Post-Panamax bulkers have been secured for the company's fleet on a long-term basis.The newly formed Bremen-based shipping company on Wednesday announced the acquisition of the 2011-built Post-Panamax bulker Topas. The ship will be named Pablo, and with an overall length of 229.2 meters (38-meter beam, 14.9-meter draft) it is currently the largest ship in the Harren Bulkers fleet. The two 2012-built sister…

Australian oil and gas company Santos has signed a contract with FPSO supplier BW Offshore for the delivery of an FPSO for the Barossa gas field, located 300 kilometers offshore Darwin in Australia. The contract is subject to Final Investment Decision (FID) by Santos and its partners, with the FID expected in the coming weeks.The Lease and Operate contract has a firm period of 15 years, with 10 years of options. The firm period contract value is USD 4.6 billion. BW Offshore will be responsible for the engineering…

CorPower, a Swedish developer of wave energy converters, is establishing an R&D, Manufacturing & Service Centre for wave energy converters in Viana do Castelo, Portugal.The location has been chosen to support CorPower’s demonstration project HiWave-5, and for the long-term development of supply and service capacity for commercial wave energy farms. "Several factors have contributed to choosing Viana do Castelo for this investment. A strong competence pool of engineers from adjacent sectors such as offshore wind…

Domestic and international lenders are vying for a slice of Japan’s nascent offshore wind power sector, which is expected to provide as much as ¥3trn (US$29bn) in project financing opportunities, albeit at very low margins.Akita Offshore Wind completed the nation’s first fundraising for a major offshore wind project last month, raising ¥80bn to build wind turbines near two ports in western Japan.Auctions for sites off Japan's shores are due to kick off in April, and lenders are…

MHI Vestas Offshore Wind has signed a firm order with Akita Offshore Wind Corporation (AOW) to supply turbines for the Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Farm (OWF) Project. This is the first firm order in Japan for the Danish wind turbines manufacturer."In a sector first for a utility-scale project in Japan, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind has completed firm and unconditional orders to supply turbines for the Akita and Noshiro offshore wind farms, jointly referred to as the Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Farm Project," said a press release from the company.The wind farms have an expected combined output of 139 MW.MHI Vestas will supply 33 V117-4.2 MW turbines in total, to be installed with fixed-bottom foundations at both sites.

Greece-based provider of seaborne transportation for containerized cargoes Euroseas  announced that it has entered into agreements to acquire four 4,253 teu containerships built in South Korea, three in 2009 and one in 2008.The owner and operator of container carrier vessels said in a press release that the vessels are being acquired from companies controlled by Synergy Holdings Limited for a total consideration of approximately $40 million.The acquisition will be financed by bank debt, existing funds of the Company and $6 million raised in private placements.Euroseas  will also assume the charters the vessels are currently under. As part of the transaction…

Tellurian, an integrated global natural gas business firm, announced that it entered into definitive agreements with subsidiaries of Total S.A. for a $500 million equity investment in Driftwood Holdings LP, and related purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG).Along with Total’s previously announced agreement to purchase approximately $200 million of Tellurian common stock, Total’s aggregate investment in the Tellurian portfolio will be approximately $907 million at final investment decision (FID) for Driftwood, the NASDAQ-listed company said in its second quarter 10-Q filing."We continue to advance negotiations for the sale of LNG and interests in Driftwood Holdings with several counter-parties," it said.

US liquefied natural gas (LNG) developer Venture Global LNG has signed a deal with investment firm Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners for a $1.3bn equity investment in the Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility.Calcasieu Pass  project is a 10 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) liquefied natural gas project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. - giving the LNG project a major financial boost as construction starts. The facility is expected to begin supplying LNG to customers in 2022.This brings total committed capital to fund the construction of Calcasieu Pass and the continued development of Venture Global’s 20 MTPA Plaquemines LNG and 20 MTPA Delta LNG facilities to $2.2 billion.Venture Global LNG Co-CEO Mike Sabel stated…

Oman Liquefied Natural Gas LLC has announced that it has successfully repaid its US$2 billion loan facility obligation ahead of schedule, saving interest costs.According to Oman News Agency, the move is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to reduce financial costs and support Oman’s credit rating.The agency quoted Dr Mohammed bin Hamad al Rumhi, Minister of Oil and Gas and chairman of Oman LNG, as saying: “The early repayment of the loan by Oman LNG demonstrates the financial robustness of the company and confidence in the oil and gas industry and Omani economy at large. Oil and gas industry provides a great investment opportunity like other sectors of the Omani economy.”He added that Oman LNG has managed to repay its loan obligations in full…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Mitsui & Co have participated in a long-term charter business  operated by MODEC for the purpose of providing a floating production, storage, and offloading system (FPSO) for use in the Area 1 block offshore Mexico and a loan agreement for the Project was entered into on April 12, 2019.Mitsui and MOL invested in Area1 Mexico MV34 B.V. ("MV34"), a Dutch company established by MODEC, which will engage in FPSO leasing, operations and maintenance services.In December 2018, MV34 concluded the charter agreement with Eni Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. ("Eni Mexico"), the operator of Area 1 block and a subsidiary of Eni S.p.A.

Revenue stability and capex plans are the main drivers of credit rating differences among Asia-Pacific ports, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. Leverage and debt structure also set apart the ratings.Revenue stability, due to strong volume or price attributes, and resilience is underpinned by each port's importance to the economy and the strength of its catchment area, along with its competitive position.Volume stability benefits from diverse throughput and limited customer concentration; reliance on a single commodity can increase volatility. Fitch assesses the price attributes as mid-range or stronger for the Asia-Pacific ports.

U.K.-based international bank Barclays  announced a new energy policy that significantly restricts the bank’s financing for the exploration or extraction of oil and gas in the Arctic.The policy  rules out funding for companies seeking to drill in the Arctic Refuge as well as other climate change threats.According to the British multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in London, arctic oil and gas refers to new exploration and extraction of oil and gas in the area within the Arctic Circle which is subject to sea ice, and includes the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Coastal Plains.The ANWR…

Japan's largest trading company  Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) announced the divestment of shares in Diamond Green Limited, with 30% to be transferred to The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc (KEPCO) and 20% to Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Company Limited (MUL).Diamond Green is an intermediate holding company wholly owned by Diamond Generating Europe, which itself is a wholly owned subsidiary of MC based in the UK. DGE has been MC’s executing arm for the Moray East Offshore Windfarm Project located in the North Sea, 22 km off the coast of Scotland.With this transaction, KEPCO and MUL now join Moray East Offshore Windfarm’s existing shareholders DGE…

Ultra Petroleum informed that David Honeyfield has been appointed to serve as CFO of the gas producer with assets in Wyoming’s Green River Basin.A press release from the energy company engaged in domestic natural gas and oil exploration, development and production said that Honeyfield has over 25 years of experience in the energy and natural resources fields with a strong background in accounting and the corporate management of public oil and gas companies.Most recently, Honeyfield served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PDC Energy, Inc. and Chief Financial Officer of Jonah Energy LLC. He has also served in various leadership roles including President and Chief Financial Officer of Intrepid Potash…