Abu Dhabi closes $872 million financing for world's largest solar plant

(REUTERS) Abu Dhabi's government-owned power utility has closed a 3.2 billion dirham ($872 million) financing package for what will be the world's largest solar power plant, the utility's top official said on Wednesday.

Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) raised $650 million in debt with the remaining $222 million raised in equity, Director General Saif Saleh al-Sayari told reporters.

A consortium of Japan's Marubeni Corp and China's JinkoSolar Holding were selected this year to build and operate the 1,177 megawatt plant.

“The financing which is completed is a $650 million project finance from local and international commercial banks,” al-Sayari said, adding that the 25-year loan is structured in a way that will allow refinancing after five years.

Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi was the leading arranger of the loan along with three other Japanese banks – Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Norinchukin Bank.

French Banks – BNP Paribas Credit Agricole, Natixis - and First Abu Dhabi Bank were also part of the deal.

The equity portion will be contributed by ADWEA and the project developers Marubeni and JinkoSolar.

Construction of the independent solar plant with a capacity of 1,177 megawatts will begin immediately with completion scheduled for the second quarter of 201