SBM Offshore announces it has signed the project financing of FSO Chalchi for a total amount of US$465 million.
The project financing is provided by a consortium of international banks and institutional investors and includes partial insurance cover from China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation. The project financing will be drawn during the construction period and will become non-recourse after the FSO has started operations. The loans have a maximum tenor of c. 14 years post completion.
FSO Chalchi is currently under construction and will be operated under 20-year lease and operate contracts with Woodside Energy through its affiliate in Mexico, Woodside Petróleo Operaciones de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Woodside).
The new build FSO is based on a Suezmax-type hull and will be equipped with a Disconnectable Turret Mooring system designed by SBM Offshore. The FSO will be moored in water depth of about 2,500 meters and will be able to store around 950,000 barrels of crude oil.
The FSO will be deployed at the Trion field, located 180 km off the Mexican coastline and 30 km south of the US/Mexico maritime border. The Trion project is a joint venture between Woodside (60%, Operator) and Petróleos Mexicanos (40%, non-Operator).
Douglas Wood, CFO of SBM Offshore, commented: “We welcome the signing of the project financing of FSO Chalchi, marking our first transaction combining commercial banks, institutional investors and support from an export credit agency. This financing structure demonstrates SBM Offshore’s ability to deliver innovative, long-term funding solutions for our clients and provides a scalable solution for potential new lease and operate projects.”
