The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC, Governor: MAEDA Tadashi) signed on July 15 a loan agreement in project financing(1) amounting up to USD3 billion (JBIC portion) with MOZ LNG1 FINANCING COMPANY LTD in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The loan is extended under JBIC's Growth Investment Facility(2). It is co-financed with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Export-Import Bank of the United States (US-Exim), UK Export Finance (UKEF), the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim Thailand) as well as 21 private financial institutions, bringing the total co-financing amount to USD14.4 billion. Part of the co-financing loans provided by private financial institutions is insured or guaranteed by Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), UKEF, SACE S.p.A. (SACE) of Italy, the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa Soc Ltd (ECIC), as well as Atradius Dutch State Business N.V.

For this project, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), jointly with Total S.A. of France, Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos E.P. of Mozambique and others, will develop the Golfinho/Atum gas field in the northernmost part of Mozambique; transport feed gas through subsea gas pipeline to the onshore liquefaction plant to be constructed; and produce and sell liquefied natural gas (LNG) with an annual production capacity of 13.12 million tons. The loan is intended to finance mainly the development of the gas field and production of LNG in the project.

Natural gas produces less greenhouse gases than other fossil fuels and mitigates environmental impacts. Global demand for LNG is projected to grow in the future, driven by increasing demand in developing countries and rising environmental awareness. In the Strategic Energy Plan released in July 2018, the Japanese government recognized that one of its most crucial policy agendas is to secure the stable supply of natural gas to Japan. Japanese utility companies are expected to offtake approximately 30% of the LNG produced by this project, and this will represent Japan's first import of LNG produced in Mozambique. As such JBIC's support for this project will contribute to securing stable supplies of LNG and to diversifying LNG supply sources for Japan.

Also, under the LNG sales and purchase agreements for this project, flexible destinations clauses(3) have been introduced and a joint procurement framework(4) has been adopted between Japanese and foreign off-takers. In the Strategy for LNG Market Development published by the Japanese government in May 2016, such flexibility in LNG sales and purchases agreements is one of the main themes earmarked for active support. JBIC, through its provision of this loan, will contribute to the optimization of LNG procurement by Japanese utility companies by supporting the formation of a more flexible LNG market.

At the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) held in August 2019, Quality Infrastructure Investment was one of its important themes. With collaborations between the public and private sectors, the Japanese government plans to further enhance its support of the African region. At TICAD7, JBIC announced the renewal of its Facility for African Investment and Trade Enhancement (FAITH) by establishing FAITH3. The loan for this project is extended under FAITH3 and is in line with Japanese government policies.

As Japan's policy-based financial institution, JBIC will continue to provide financial support to the projects that contribute to securing important energy resources for Japan, by drawing on its various financial facilities and schemes for structuring projects and performing its risk-assuming function.

(1) Project finance is a financial scheme in which repayments are made solely from cash flows generated by the project and secured only on the project assets.
(2) See Announcement on January 31, 2020 and May 1, 2020.
(3) Destination clauses designate a list of unloading terminals as destination ports of LNG ships and prevent LNG buyers from reselling the LNG to other buyers.
(4) Joint procurement framework is a procurement structure in which Japanese and foreign off-takers can procure LNG more flexibly depending on parties' needs.

About the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

JBIC's mission is to contribute to the sound development of Japan and international economy and society by conducting financial operation in the following four fields:
- Promoting the overseas development and securement of resources which are important for Japan
- Maintaining and improving the international competitiveness of Japanese industries
- Promoting the overseas business having the purpose of preserving the global environment, such as preventing global warming
- Preventing disruptions to international financial order or taking appropriate measures with respect to damages caused by such disruption