18.01.2023

Practice Areas: Corporate and M&A

Industries: Environment

Desks: Mozambique Desk

Type: Abreu News

Abreu Advogados and JLA Advogados advised the financing operation for the modernization of Cahora Bassa

Abreu Advogados and JLA Advogados advised the French Development Agency in a financing operation for Hidroelétrica de Cahora Bassa S.A., the Mozambican company that operates the hydroelectric power plant of the Cahora Bassa Dam. This financing will be used within the scope of the “Vital Capex” program, which intends to rehabilitate and modernize the electricity production system of that hydroelectric complex.

This is a loan package of 100 million euros, which will contribute to extend the lifespan of the plant by a minimum of 25 years, increasing the reliability of the power supply and reducing interruptions in the electricity production process. Besides this loan package, there is a financing of 22 million euros allocated by the European Union, together with the French Development Agency. It is estimated that the “Vital Capex” program has an implementation period of 10 years and a total investment of around 600 million Euros.

Abreu Advogados’ advisory was focused on an extensive due diligence work and on the preparation and review of the contractual package of this financing operation and involved a team coordinated by Zara Jamal, partner at Abreu Advogados and JLA Advogados, and Ana Sofia Batista, partner at Abreu Advogados, with the participation of Mafalda Teixeira de Abreu, professional partner at Abreu Advogados, and Isabel Pinheiro Torres, associated partner at Abreu Advogados.

The Cahora Bassa Dam is the fourth largest in Africa and is located on the Zambezi River, in the province of Tete, Mozambique, and is one of the main electricity producing complexes in Southern Africa.

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