AIIB, EBRD and BSTDB co-finance expansion of Turkey’s largest geothermal plant
Three major development banks are helping Turkey diversify its energy mix with an investment adding close to 100 MW in capacity to EFELER, the country’s largest geothermal power plant.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) are contributing to a financial package worth USD350 million for three new units at the plant.
EFELER is located in western Turkey, in the region of the Büyük Menderes Graben basin, the area in Turkey with the greatest potential for geothermal energy.
Gürmat Elektrik, a renewable energy subsidiary of Güriş Holding, is using the finance for the expansion at EFELER that will tap into locally available geothermal resources.
Of the three new units, EFE-6 with 22.6 MW capacity and EFE-7 with 25 MW are already operational. EFE-8 with a capacity of 50 MW is still under construction.
When fully completed next year, the plant’s eight units will have a total installed capacity of 260 MW.
Under the financing package, Gürmat Elektrik will receive USD100 million loan from the AIIB, a USD 60 million loan from the EBRD and USD 20 million loan from the BSTDB.
In parallel, Turkey’s largest commercial lender Isbank is providing USD 90 million loan, and the Industrial Development Bank of Turkey TSKB and ICBC Turkey are making loans of USD 50 million and USD 30 million, respectively.
The financing is part of the effort to help Turkey develop local renewable energy sources and encourage private sector investment in the energy sector.
Güriş Holding has also committed to providing more career opportunities for women in this traditionally male-dominated sector.
AIIB Vice President and Chief Investment Officer D.J. Pandian said:
“This project represents a number of firsts for AIIB: EFELER is our first nonsovereign-based financing in Turkey, our first co-financing with EBRD and BSTDB in the private sector, and our first investment in the geothermal space. It is also a visible example of AIIB’s commitment to the expansion of renewable energy projects led by the private sector in Turkey.”
EBRD Managing Director for Sustainable Infrastructure Nandita Parshad said:
“We are pleased to build on our previous cooperation with Guris Holding, a long-standing client of the EBRD with a strong track record of project implementation. We are also proud to join forces with AIIB, BSTDB and commercial banks and together provide a comprehensive financing package to the company. The EBRD is committed to helping Turkey develop and diversify its energy mix.”
BSTDB Vice President Banking Hasan Demirhan said:
“As a regional development bank, BSTDB seeks to considerably increase its strategic role in supporting infrastructure investments with high development impact in member countries, including creation of long-term employment and increased revenues for the state budget. This project is also a good example of our synergies with peer development institutions and private sector investors to increase the efficiency of development financing.”
About AIIB
AIIB is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia. Headquartered in Beijing, we began operations in January 2016 and have now grown to 100 approved members worldwide. By investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors in Asia and beyond, we will better connect people, services and markets that over time will impact the lives of billions and build a better future.
The EBRD is a multilateral bank that promotes the development of the private sector and entrepreneurial initiative in 38 economies across three continents. The Bank is owned by 68 countries as well as the EU and the EIB. The Bank is a leading institutional investor in Turkey and has invested over €11 billion in 283 projects in the country since 2009. The overwhelming majority of EBRD investments in Turkey are in the private sector.
The BSTDB is an international financial institution established by Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. The BSTDB headquarters are in Thessaloniki, Greece. BSTDB supports economic development and regional cooperation by providing loans, credit lines, equity and guarantees for projects and trade financing in the public and private sectors in its member countries. Follow us at www.bstdb.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.
Source: aiib.org
