Recope Preps CDB Loan

Costa Rica’s Recope and the China Development Bank (CDB) are working on a 15-year $800m-$900m syndicated loan with a 3-year grace period arranged by CDB to fund improvements at Soresco, a joint refinery venture between China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Recope, the Costa Rican government says. The Costa Rican national oil refinery has signed a mandate letter with the bank and preliminary financial conditions are being explored, says a person familiar with the agreement, who declined to comment on the interest rate. Soresco, created in 2008, will invest a total of $1.24bn to revamp and expand the Moin-based refinery which will process 60,000 barrels of oil per day. The remaining $300m to $400m will be covered by both partners in equal amounts. Recope plans to issue bonds in the local market in 2012 to finance its share of the deal. As structured, the Soresco joint venture will take care of construction and then lease the facility back to Recope for 15 years with an option to purchase. The lease fee to be paid to Recope will be calculated assuming a 16% IRR for the project.