Linklaters has advised African Development Bank (AfDB), Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa (ECIC), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) together with ECIC and NEXI covered commercial banks on the multi-billion-dollar financing of the $4 billion Nacala Corridor Rail and Port project in Mozambique and Malawi. This is the largest ever successful project financing of infrastructure development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Project comprises the construction, refurbishment and operation of a 912 km railway line through Mozambique and Malawi as well as the construction and operation of a coal terminal in the port of Nacala-à-Velha. Mozambique. The railway will link Vale Mozambique’s Moatize coal project in Tete Province, Mozambique, with the port.
The Tete Province in Western Mozambique is said to have some of the world’s richest coal deposits, and in recent years the area has attracted mining companies such as Brazil’s Vale. However, to date, export capability has been constrained by poor infrastructure linking the mine pits to ports.
This deal is the first in the region bringing public and private sector investment together to improve Mozambique’s rail and port infrastructure to support growth of the mining sector in Mozambique, as well as the benefits associated with enhanced passenger and general cargo transport from otherwise land locked areas. The deal is unique in that it involves lending to four separate companies with five separate and different concessions with a mixture of greenfield and brownfield development.
Fiona Hobbs, Partner, Linklaters said: “This Project is significant both as a major mining infrastructure project but also as a catalyst for what is expected to be significant regional development. By deploying sector expertise, geographic coverage and our market leading emerging markets financing capabilities, we are pleased to have been able to support this major multi-sourced project financing.”
Francisco Ferraz de Carvalho, partner, Linklaters, said: “It is impressive that in the same year both the Nacala and the Area 4 Coral FLNG Mozambican project financings have been signed. It shows that it is possible to structure large scale project financings in the country across a variety of sectors.”
Andrew Jones, Head of Linklaters’ Africa Group said: “The Project showcases Linklaters’ unique ability to mix and match specialist resources to deliver complex transactions in Africa – in this case, colleagues in London, Lisbon, Tokyo, Amsterdam and Dubai and at our alliance firm Webber Wentzel in South Africa, supported by our deep relationships with leading law firms in Malawi and Mozambique.”
The Linklaters team was led by Fiona Hobbs and Andrew Jones in London, Francisco Ferraz de Carvalho in Lisbon and Hirofumi Taba in Tokyo and comprised lawyers from London, Lisbon, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Amsterdam and Dubai. A team from Webber Wentzel, Linklaters’ South African alliance partner, advised the South African commercial lenders. In-country advice was provided by ABCC in Mozambique and Savjani & Co in Malawi.
