SBM Offshore has announced the signing of project financing for the FSO Chalchi, amounting to US$465 million. The financing is being provided by a consortium of international banks and institutional investors, with partial insurance coverage from China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation. The facility will be drawn during the construction phase and will convert to a non-recourse structure once the FSO enters into operation. The loans have a maximum tenor of approximately 14 years following project completion.
FSO Chalchi is currently under construction and will be operated under 20-year lease and operate contracts with Woodside Energy through its affiliate in Mexico, Woodside Petróleo Operaciones de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Woodside).
The new build FSO is based on a Suezmax-type hull and will be equipped with a Disconnectable Turret Mooring system designed by SBM Offshore. The FSO will be moored in water depth of about 2,500 meters and will be able to store around 950,000 barrels of crude oil.
The FSO will be deployed at the Trion field, located 180 km off the Mexican coastline and 30 km south of the US/Mexico maritime border. The Trion project is a joint venture between Woodside (60%, Operator) and Petróleos Mexicanos (40%, non-Operator).
Douglas Wood, CFO of SBM Offshore, commented:
“We welcome the signing of the project financing of FSO Chalchi, marking our first transaction combining commercial banks, institutional investors and support from an export credit agency. This financing structure demonstrates SBM Offshore’s ability to deliver innovative, long-term funding solutions for our clients and provides a scalable solution for potential new lease and operate projects.”
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