Myanmar Cambodia Laos Energy and Infrastructure Update
Sponsors: VDB Loi, Japan Institute for Overseas Investment (JOI)
Supporter: Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
Some of ASEAN’s lesser known markets are struggling to catch up with electricity demand and the dire need for proper transportation infrastructure. Are you up to date on the opportunities for sponsors and lenders in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar when it comes to infrastructure and energy PPPs? Law firm VDB Loi’s on the ground experts share their insights on some of the hottest issues. What is going on behind the scenes in the LNG and gas space? How is land acquired for infrastructure projects? Which solar projects will next be tendered?
Program
(with English/Japanese Simultaneous Interpretation)
| Time | Topic |
| 14:00〜16:00 | Myanmar Cambodia Laos Energy and Infrastructure Update |
| 1. LNG and gas projects in Myanmar and Cambodia What has been going on in the Myanmar LNG space after the Government announced several very large projects under preparation in 2018? Since then, the media has reported on additional, perhaps just as large LNG-to-Power projects focused directly on Yangon by a consortium of Japanese energy companies. At the same time, VPower moves centre stage in Myanmar having won several power rentals tenders. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s electric power shortage raises the possibility of LNG in the generation mix, while piping gas projects are being discussed seriously. What are the opportunities? – Projects, priorities and permits: Cambodia’s quest for LNG, gas and electricity – Transmission lines and gas pipelines: how does the land acquisition work? – How much US$, how much local currency? The currency question examined – Terminal leases, port and maritime law aspects of LNG projects | |
| 2. Sovereign guarantees and foreign currency: update on law and policy Some projects cannot do without. What have been the developments in Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos? – Myanmar: how do different Government departments think about sovereign guarantees? Which drafts have been submitted before? – Cambodia: Precedents and lessons learned. Must you accept some portion in local currency? – Laos: Policy in transition: how will the currency mix be set for projects that sell power domestically? | |
| 3. Land acquisition for infrastructure projects Typically, one of the most challenging issues in pioneer countries, how does the sponsor or the Government manage to acquire the land for the project? – Cambodia: case study of land acquisition for a solar project. What are the terms for leasing Government land? – Laos: what do you need to know about compulsory acquisition laws in Laos? How is compensation calculated? – Myanmar: A new legal framework, but how does it work in practice? | |
| 4. Renewables and PPP: projects outlook and legal developments Round-up on solar and wind projects in the pipeline, as well as other Public Private Partnership projects. What are the commercial and legal terms of solar projects? Is the Government accepting direct negotiations or only tenders? How is PPP regulated under local laws? – Upcoming solar project tenders in Myanmar – A new solar tariff set in Cambodia – Laos will seek to catch up on solar projects: outlook – Road PPP opportunities in Myanmar and Laos – Draft PPP law in Cambodia | |
| 16:00〜16:30 | Questions & Answers |
Speakers
Edwin Vanderbruggen
Senior Partner
VDB Loi
Edwin is the senior partner of VDB Loi and a leading foreign legal advisor living in Myanmar since 2012. A frequent advisor to the Government on transactions and privatizations in energy, transportation and telecom, he is widely recognized for his “vast knowledge” (Legal 500) and his ability “to get difficult things through the bureaucracy ” (Chambers, 2016). He advises international financial institutions on their largest Myanmar transactions, oil and gas supermajors, a greenfield multi- billion US$ telecom project and the Japanese Government on the Thilawa SEZ. He assisted two newly licensed foreign banks setup in Myanmar, acted for the sponsor of an 800MUS$ urban infrastructure PPP project and worked on 6 out of 7 power deals inked in 2016.
Satoshi Mitsukuri
Japan Desk Manager
VDB Loi
EVENT DETAILS
February 26, 2020
9AM
Japan Bank for International Cooperation 9th floor auditorium, Tokyo