Nam Theun 2 Power Company Ltd.

MIGA provided $91 million in political risk insurance for a hydropower project in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and Thailand. The bulk of the guarantee, $86 million, is covering a non-shareholder loan by BNP Paribas (formerly known as Fortis Banque SA/Fortis Bank NV) of France, representing itself and acting as agent for a number of banks, against the risks of expropriation, breach of contract, war and civil disturbance, and transfer inconvertibility in both Lao PDR and Thailand ^[1]. The rest of the coverage (since terminated) protected EDF International of France against the risk of transfer restriction in Lao PDR. ^[2]

Total project cost is $1.2 billion, the largest investment ever in Lao PDR. The project involves the development, construction, and operation of a trans-basin power plant that will use water from the Nam Theun River. In addition to the construction of a dam, the project also provides for increased environmental protection in Lao PDR, with a biodiversity area being set aside and conserved; improved housing and higher incomes for the 6,200 villagers who are re-settling from the reservoir area; a robust and proactive mitigation and compensation program to help communities downstream prepare for changes to their livelihoods; special measures to ensure that revenues from the project are used effectively to reduce poverty; and a continued commitment by the World Bank to monitor the project and ensure that it is fully and properly implemented.

Lao PDR has an average income level of less than a dollar a day, with levels considerably lower in rural areas and few options for generating income. The project is expected to generate an estimated $1.9 billion in foreign exchange earnings over a 25-year period through the export of 995 MW of electricity to Thailand. The income generated by the project will provide key funding for Lao’s National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy, enabling the country to increase the amount of money it can invest in health, education, and basic infrastructure for the benefit of the poor. The project will also produce 75 MW of power for domestic consumption.

MIGA’s guarantee was key to lowering the project’s risk profile, which in turn enabled the government and developers to attract commercial financing at better rates and gave the investor the assurance needed to go ahead with the deal. MIGA’s guarantee complements a $50 million partial risk guarantee issued by the World Bank, as well as a $20 million grant from the International Development Association.

^[1] The PNB Paribas guarantee was Cancelled on May 05, 2022.

^[2] The EDF International  guarantee was Cancelled on June 16, 2019.