Latest Analysis
Friday the 13th – Nightmare on London Streets
Transport EuropeLike all best horror stories, this one is set in the near future – in this case a mere six months hence – a half-year since the C Virus ravaged the market, slashing value from listed infra funds and reducing managers to husks of their former selves
Don Rodrigo solar, Spain
Renewables EuropeThis week German developer BayWa r.e. signed a 15-year PPA with Norwegian utility Statkraft for the 170MWp no-subsidy solar PV project in Spain, extending the tenors for PPAs in the market. Spanish and German banks are preparing to back PPAs with long-term senior debt as soon as this year
US upstream intention
Oil & Gas North AmericaRebounding oil prices saw a surge in upstream oil & gas investments in the US last year, but that enthusiasm may be more muted in 2018
Turkey – sun, wind and political risk
Renewables EuropeIt’s tiresome as hell, repetitive to a fault and dull as ditch water. Aren’t you just sick of the daily force-feed news that X offshore wind farm is the biggest ever, zero bids will soon have developers paying for the privilege, Y solar park achieved the lowest rate, and panels are so cheap they will be handing them out for free with tubes of sun lotion?
Lebanon’s designs on PPP
Renewables MENALebanon has unveiled plans for a $22 billion Infrastructure Investment Programme (IIP) to be implemented over the coming 12 years, with $6 billion of that designated as PPPs. The programme opens up opportunities for private investors to tap a market desperately in need of key infrastructure – but which has had little PPP success in the past
Power push in Bangladesh
Power Asia PacificBangladesh has the potential for significant economic growth but still suffers from huge unmet power demand. The country is trying to address this power deficit by investing in renewables and conventional power sources
Australia: Sydney congestion
Transport Asia PacificInfrastructure Australia's priority list for 2018 is focusing on resolving congestion in Sydney, the country’s largest city
Çanakkale Bridge, Turkey
Transport EuropeTurkey’s north western regions have seen a flurry of transport projects of late, with bridges – specifically the third Bosporus bridge, which opened to traffic on 26 August 2016, and the recently financed Çanakkale Bridge – the crowning glory of the programme
Samurai loans – new master for Ronin lenders
Water Asia PacificA wind of change is sweeping the Australian financing market with MUFG closing syndication on its second refi of a major piece of availability-based infrastructure today, leveraging the fearsome might of Samurai lenders
Sparks of life in Brazilian transmission
Power Latin AmericaThe Brazilian government sees investment in transmission assets as a key tool in boosting the country’s economy. After a number of years of limited interest in development auctions, improved returns for investors in 2016 revealed an increased appetite for transmission projects
Boston automated fare P3, US
Transport North AmericaA new automated fare collection system for Boston, but Charlie is still stuck on the subway
Belt and Road: the next phase
Asia PacificChina is looking to shift the funding strategy for its Belt and Road initiative away from government loans and towards more diversified sources of financing
Infra debt funds: small but growing
Oil & Gas EuropeEven though the IJInvestor database shows that only 20% of total funds in raising mode are geared towards debt rather than equity deals, investor appetite for the asset class seems to be slowly picking up in Europe – with managers either setting up debt strategies from scratch or launching next generation vehicles
China powering into Africa
Power Sub-Saharan AfricaLast year saw a surge in investment in Africa power assets by Chinese institutions, demonstrating how the continent continues to be of major economic and strategic importance to the Asian superpower
The Colombia 4G slow down
Distrust in the government and corruption scandals have made most banks hit the brake
Spalding Energy Expansion Project, the UK
Power EuropeInterGen’s Spalding Energy Expansion Project in Lincolnshire, the UK, reached financial close on 27 February – to a tune of £72 million in debt financing