Adani Transmission raises USD 700 Mn for its four transmission projects in Gujarat, Maharastra
Biznextindia : Adani Transmission Limited (ATL), India’s leading private sector power transmission and retail distribution company, has raised USD 700 Mn for its under-construction transmission asset portfolio through the definitive agreements signed with leading international banks. The revolving facility will finance ATL’s four transmission projects in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
According to the agreement, eight international banks – DBS Bank Ltd., Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., Mizuho Bank, Ltd., MUFG Bank, Ltd., Siemens Bank GmbH, Société Générale, Standard Chartered Bank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, committed for the facility. This strategic transaction will meet the capital recycling needs of the banks and make the same capital available for current and future projects of ATL. The revolving nature of the facility will help ATL to achieve its goal of 20,000 ckt km of transmission lines by 2022.
“This project financing deal is the first of its kind sanctioned by international banks in the transmission sector, and validates the overall development model of the Adani Group,” said Mr. Anil Sardana, MD and CEO, ATL. “All the Adani Group companies have aligned their investment plans to honour the nation’s commitment on climate change. ATL is at the forefront of grid stability and providing sustainable, reliable and affordable energy solutions. Our development agenda is coupled with overall capital stewardship maintained through our capital management philosophy focused on equitable growth.”
The revolving facility is an important element of ATL’s overall capital management plan and is key to fully funding its growth aspirations. The definitive agreements set out a Platform Infrastructure Financing Framework of agreed principles and procedures under which ATL will engage with the financiers to raise financing efficiently and expeditiously for all future projects as per the agreed threshold parameters. On a fully drawn basis, the capex revolving facility will fund the capex program of USD 1.1 Bn.
The facility is a step towards overall energy transition, wherein the projects located in Gujarat are part of the green energy corridor developed to facilitate dedicated transmission of renewable energy. The projects being implemented in Maharashtra are key upgrades to strengthen the transmission system and critical response drivers to overcome the technical constraints of renewable energy interface into the grid to ensure overall grid stability as well as ensuring integration of green energy into the city of Mumbai to promote the move to a low-carbon economy.
Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd (AEML), ATL’s distribution company in Mumbai, has legally covenanted a target of procuring at least 60% of energy from renewable sources – a quantum leap from the current 3%.