New Delhi, 20th October
2020.
Sterlite Power, a leading global power transmission player, has
achieved financial closure for its Vapi II North Lakhimpur Transmission Limited
(VNLTL)project by securing theentire debt funding ofINR 2070 crores from one of
India’s largest power sector lenders, Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC
Ltd.). The financial closure is achieved within four months of the SPV
acquisition of the project.
Sterlite Power acquired VNLTL SPV in June 2020 to execute one of the largest
inter-state transmission system projectscovering Western Region Strengthening
Scheme-XIX (WRSS-XIX) and North Eastern Region Strengthening Scheme-IX
(NERSS-IX). This single project, with its various sub-elements, will supply
clean and green energy from solar, nuclear and hydro powerto the western and
north eastern region of India.
Further, this project aims to set up 179 ckm of lines for critical
system strengthening to decongest theNavi Mumbaitransmission corridor by
bringing in an inter-state transmission feed of about 1,000 MW. This link will cater
to the growing energy requirements in the regionowing to the upcoming Navi
Mumbai Airport and Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Commenting on thefinancial milestone, Mr. Pratik Agarwal,
Managing Director, Sterlite Power said, “We are pleased to conclude
this mega financial deal with one of India’s largest and most reputed financial
institution in the power sector–PFC, amidsta tough market situation. This deal
is a huge show of trust by PFC in our capability to deliver some of the most challenging
and impactful transmission projects in the country.”
He further added, “Earlier this month, we also inducted REC Ltd. as the
Lead Lender forLVTPL, our Green Energy Corridor project. We are an active
proponent of greening the grid, and we see about 80 per cent of our new
projects to be linked to transportation of renewable energy.”
Sterlite Power with its strong track record has successfully achieved
financial closure of many of its projects despite the weak market conditions
owing to the pandemic. Earlier in July 2020, the company had refinanced its
Gurgaon Palwal Transmission project with India’s leading financial institution
- HDFC Bank. In Oct 2020, it introduced REC Ltd. as the lead lender for its
Green Energy Corridor project – LVTPL. Now with the closure of funding for
VNLTL from PFC, the company has been able to forge relationships with India’s
largest power sector financing institutions. This is a testimony of the
continued trust reposed on the company by the banking and investor community.