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Overview

[China-Venezuela Joint Fund] CDB funds USD 100 million project to acquire special units for the electrical sector (linked to Record ID#58677, 94080, 94081, and 94082 )

Commitment Year2014Country of ActivityVenezuelaDirect Recipient Country of IncorporationVenezuelaSectorEnergyFlow TypeLoan

Status

Project lifecycle

Completion

Pipeline: PledgePipeline: CommitmentImplementationCompletion

Timeline

Key dates

Commitment date
Mar 31, 2014

Stakeholders

Organizations involved in projects and activities supported by financial and in-kind transfers from Chinese government and state-owned entities

Ultimate beneficial owners

At least 25% host country ownershipAt least 25% Chinese ownership

Funding agencies

State-owned Policy Banks

  • China Development Bank (CDB)

Receiving agencies

State-owned Banks

  • Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES)

State-owned Funds

  • China-Venezuela Joint Fund

Implementing agencies

Government Agencies

  • Venezuelan Ministry of Electric Power

State-owned companies

  • CORPOELEC

State-owned Funds

  • China-Venezuela Joint Fund

Collateral providers

State-owned companies

  • Pétroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA)

Loan desecription

[China-Venezuela Joint Fund] CDB funds USD 100 million project to acquire special units for the electrical sector

Interest typeUnknown

Collateral

The borrowing was collateralized with PDVSA income from daily oil sales to China National United Oil Corporation (ChinaOil), which was deposited in a collection (escrow) account at China Development Bank (CDB). Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) opened and maintained a USD-denominated collection (escrow) account with CDB into which all proceeds from oil export sales -- under an offtake agreement (petroleum sales and purchase contract) between PDVSA and ChinaOil -- were deposited for the purposes of (a) making regular debt service payments to CDB, and (b) maintaining a minimum cash collateral balance. The borrower was required to maintain a minimum cash balance in the collection (escrow) account equivalent to no less than 1.3 times the aggregate amount of principal, interest, and any other amount due during the next repayment period. If the minimum cash balance was not maintained, then PDVSA would be responsible for increasing the amount of fuel and/or crude oil to be delivered under the petroleum sales and purchase contract to ensure that (a) the actual debt service coverage ratio was maintained at the required level at the required times; and (b) the amount in the New Collection Account was sufficient to meet the required balance requirements set out in the facility agreement. If PDVSA did not do so, then BANDES was responsible for transferring funds to the CDB-controlled bank account to 'remedy any shortfall.' The lender also had the ability to block the debtor from withdrawing the funds.

Narrative

Full Description

Project narrative

On March 31, 2014, the Venezuelan government approved the use of USD 375 million from the China-Venezuela Joint Fund (see Record ID#58377) for four projects to improve of the national electricity system (Spanish: Sistema Eléctrico Nacional (SEN)). One of these projects was called "Project for the Acquisition of Specialized Units for the Electricity Sector" (Spanish: Proyecto de Adquisición de Unidades Especializadas para el Sector Eléctrico). This project cost USD 100 million and involved purchasing new equipment for the Venezuelan electricity system, such as washers. The project was implemented by CORPOELEC, the Venezuelan state-owned power company, and the Ministry of People's Power for Electric Energy (MPEE). It is unclear when this project was officially started, or if it was ever completed. The other projects for which the USD 375 million was allocated were USD 100 million for the National Public Lighting Plan (see Record ID#94080), USD 93 million for new transmission substations (see Record ID#94081), and USD 80 million for the Plan to Eliminate Illegal Taps (see Record ID#94082).

Staff comments

1. No transaction amount is recorded for this project because it is captured in Record ID#58677. 2. This project and its linked records were committed relatively late in the China-Venezuela Joint Fund. It is unclear which tranche the funding came from, but it is most likely from Tranche C (see Record ID#38316), which financed other electricity projects.