Power Utilities

We recognise the unique challenges presented by projects across the energy, natural resources, and infrastructure sector. The size and complexity in financing and constructing conventional and renewable power plant or transmission lines, including cross-border, present a whole range of issues that need to be considered, including funding, land acquisition, environmental issues and regulatory requirements.

The capital-intensive nature of these projects, coupled with the various legal issues in different jurisdictions, makes it essential that a firm understands all the issues and has the local knowledge to ensure your project is concluded quickly and successfully.

Representative Power Utilities Experience

• Acting as counsel to a Belgian power company in the EUR 270 million acquisition of a privatised Polish coal-fired power plant (approximately 1800 MW of installed capacity);
• Advising a shareholder / lender / contractor in connection with a large BOT project for a power plant in Novorossiysk, Russia;
• Advising an Italian electricity producer in the acquisition of a stake in the leading Russian wholesale and retail electricity trader;
• Negotiating over 20 contracts for a project relating to the construction of an HVDC connection between Poland and Sweden - SwePol Link, including a long-term PPA, financial agreements, and connection and transmission agreements;
• Advising the Polish Transmission System Operator on cross-border coordinated power auctions organised by 8 TSOs in Central Europe;
• Advising the Polish TSO in connection with an investment project involving construction of a 1000 MW power interconnection between Lithuania and Poland;
• Acting as counsel to a European power company in relation to the construction of a gas fuelled power plant in France;
• Acting as counsel to a French operator in relation to a concession for a district heating network in Romania;
• Advising a Belgian power producer concerning the refurbishment of a nuclear power plant in Romania; the capital expenses for this project are valued at EUR 2.2 billion;
• Advising a Belgian power producer on the privatisation of two coal-fired power plants (approx. 800 MW) in Romania;
• Acting in relation to an EU-funded consulting project concerning the legal regime for the hydro-electric industry in Kyrgyzstan;
• Advising in relation to the regulation of the Spanish wholesale power market in Spain, in particular advising on financial and physical trading;
• Assisting the Government of Paraguay in the drafting of the Strategic Plan for the Energy Sector, electric energy, gas and oil, including integration with Mercosur; and,
• Advising a leading Swiss energy company on the acquisition of a majority stake in another Swiss energy company by a cross-border team of Salans lawyers, involving 5 European offices.