Energía del Pacífico Closes Financing on Largest Ever Foreign Direct Investment in El Salvador

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Major liquefied natural gas (LNG)-to-power infrastructure project will meet 30% of El Salvador's energy demand

Significant improvement to El Salvador's environment through new clean energy generation and reduced reliance on heavy fuel oil

Reliable energy generation will drive economic growth, spur new opportunities for the Salvadoran people and contribute to the stability of the region

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, Dec. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Energía del Pacífico (EDP) today announced completion of project financing for the liquefied natural gas (LNG)-to-power project currently under construction at the Port of Acajutla, El Salvador. The transformative infrastructure project brings approximately $1 billion foreign direct investment for the Central American nation, making it the largest private investment ever in the country. 

The project is comprised of a 378-megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired power plant, a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), and an approximately 44-kilometer electric transmission line that will connect to the Central American Electrical Interconnection System, strengthening the country's electric grid. The project is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2021.

EDP will introduce a new source of thermal generation to El Salvador through power purchase agreements with seven of the country's distribution companies. The plant's use of natural gas will reduce the amount of imported diesel and heavy fuel oil fired generation in El Salvador's electricity mix, resulting in significant environmental benefits for the country and the region.

U.S.-based Invenergy, a leading privately held global developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions, developed EDP in partnership with El Salvador-based partners Grupo Calleja, VC Energy de Centroamerica and Quantum Energy.

"Energía del Pacífico is a transformational project for El Salvador and the entire region – a shining example of the enormous opportunity that can be created, despite prior obstacles, when private initiatives have strong government support," said Michael Polsky, Invenergy Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "Leveraging our decades of development, engineering, finance, construction and operating experience, Invenergy is uniquely positioned to lead this partnership and execute this complex project."

EDP and Shell have executed a long-term agreement for supply of LNG for the project. In partnership with BW LNG and BW Offshore, LNG will be converted to natural gas on an FSRU that will be permanently moored offshore. Saam Towage will provide tug support services for the project. LNG delivered to the FSRU will be regasified and transported from the FSRU to the power plant through a sub-sea pipeline to be engineered and constructed by maritime infrastructure contractor Boskalis. 

Clean, reliable power will be generated by Wärtsilä internal combustion engines running on natural gas and a steam turbine generator. Elecnor will engineer and construct the 230-kV double-circuit transmission line and associated substations. 

Leading global financial institutions Overseas Private Investment Corporation, International Finance Corporation, IDB Invest, Finnish Export Credit Ltd and KfW IPEX-Bank are lenders to the project. White & Case served as transaction counsel, Arias as Salvadoran counsel and Astris Finance acted as financial advisor for EDP.

U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Ronald Johnson said, "The Energía del Pacífico project represents a significant investment in El Salvador's energy future.  With Invenergy as a leading partner and financing from OPIC, EDP is the kind of private sector-driven infrastructure investment the United States' America Crece initiative will promote throughout the region."

Eighty full-time, high-quality permanent jobs will be created to operate and maintain the power plant, FSRU and accompanying infrastructure. EDP will require more than 1,000 workers to build the project.

EDP will contribute millions of dollars to economic and social projects in Acajutla and the surrounding region over the life of the project. As part of its social commitment, EDP has already provided electricity for the first time to El Salvador farms and families and upgraded the school in Acajutla in addition to improving road, sewer and water infrastructure.

About Invenergy

We are innovators building a sustainable world. Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, own, and operate large-scale sustainable energy generation and storage facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Invenergy's home office is located in Chicago, and it has regional development offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Japan, Poland and Scotland. Invenergy has successfully developed more than 24,000 megawatts of projects that are in operation, construction or contracted, including wind, solar, and natural gas power generation facilities as well as advanced energy storage projects. For more information, please visit www.invenergyllc.com.

SOURCE Invenergy