Mr. Jean-Jean-Sébastien Jacques (Pic By Rio Tinto)
The development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine in Mongolia took an important step forward with the signing of a US$4.4 billion project financing agreement.
Oyu Tolgoi has secured Project Finance for the underground mine development with funding by international financial institutions and export credit agencies representing the governments of the United States, Canada and Australia, along with 15 commercial banks.
The signing in Ulaanbaatar follows the agreement earlier this year of the Oyu Tolgoi Underground Mine Development and Financing Plan by the Government of Mongolia, Turquoise Hill Resources and Rio Tinto, which set out a pathway towards development, including the basis for the funding of the project.
Rio Tinto and all Oyu Tolgoi shareholders will now continue to work towards updating the feasibility study, including the revised capital estimates, and securing all necessary permits for the development of the underground mine. Once these steps have been completed the project will be submitted to the various boards for approval and the $4.4 billion tranche will be drawn down.
Rio Tinto Copper and Coal chief executive Jean-Sébastien Jacques said the Project Finance agreement is significant in the industry and is the next important step towards further development of the world class Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia.
“This kind of mining development partnership model sets the industry benchmark for future schemes and underscores Rio Tinto’s commitment to responsible and prudent growth. Long-term copper fundamentals remain strong and Oyu Tolgoi as a tier one asset will be a globally important source of supply as the market moves back into structural deficit over the next few years.”
Under the project financing, Initial Senior Loans will total $4.4 billion and will consist of facilities provided and funded by Export Development Canada (“EDC”), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“EBRD”), the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”), the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation of Australia (“Efic”) and commercial lenders comprising BNP Paribas, ANZ, ING, Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking, Sumitomo Mitsui, Standard Chartered Bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Crédit Agricole, Intesa Sanpaolo, National Australia Bank, Natixis, HSBC, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, KfW IPEX-Bank and Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) provided political risk insurance for the commercial banks.
EDC, EBRD, IFC and BNP Paribas acted as Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers and Standard Chartered Bank as Initial Lead Arranger. BNP Paribas was the sole bookrunner of the $2.34 billion facilities funded by the commercial banks, together with EBRD and IFC on their respective B loans.
The parties have agreed a debt cap of $6 billion, providing the option for an additional $1.6 billion of Supplemental Debt in future.
