Saudi Arabia-based utilities developer and investor Acwa Power has reached preliminary financial closure for a $125m senior refinancing facility for its subsidiary, Rabigh Arabian Water & Electricity Company (Rawec).

The facility will be used to finance expenses and general corporate purposes, including distribution of dividends, the firm said in a bourse filing on 2 January.

It is being raised from the local bank market and has a tenor of 12.5 years, maturing in 2034.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The drawdown is expected early this month.

The new facility will increase financing costs for Rawec, which owns and operates the plant that provides power, water and steam to Petro Rabigh Corporation.

“The new facility targets the optimisation of the capital structure of Rawec and monetisation of the future cash flows of the company,” Acwa Power said.

The refinancing facility supplements an $800m-equivalent senior debt facility that was drawn down on 30 December 2021.

In March 2019, Acwa Power increased its shareholding Rawec and its operations and maintenance company Rabigh Power Company (RPC).

The firms own, operate, manage and maintain the power and desalination plant for Petro Rabigh Corporation.

The local developer at the time acquired certain shares and debt instruments and loan notes held by Japan’s Marubeni Corporation in Rawec and RPC.

The deal increased Acwa Power’s shareholding to 74% after buying all of Marubeni’s stake in Rawec. It also bought 34% of Marubeni’s shares in RPC.

It is understood its shareholding in Rawec has further increased to 99% over the intervening period.

The conventional thermal power plant in Rabigh is capable of producing 840MW of power, 6,110tph of steam and 12,000tph of water.

RPC is contracted for the operations and maintenance of the plant through an agreement signed with Rawec.

Rawec provides power, water and steam to Petro Rabigh Corporation, a joint venture (JV) of Saudi Aramco and Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical, under a long-term take or pay water and energy conversion agreement.


Energy Transition in the Middle East    

A major new report from MEED looks at how the global shift away from fossil fuels is reshaping energy policy in the Middle East and North Africa, and its impact on business and project investment. 

Learn more about the report here


This article is published by MEED, the world’s leading source of business intelligence about the Middle East. MEED provides exclusive news, data and analysis on the Middle East every day. For access to MEED’s Middle East business intelligence, subscribe here.