rns17 Jan 2019 11:52
17th January 2019
GCM Resources plc
("GCM" or the "Company")
(AIM:GCM)
Further agreements with POWERCHINA
GCM Resources plc ("GCM" or the "Company"), an AIM quoted mining and energy company, is pleased to announce that it has agreed a Joint Venture Agreement ("JV Agreement") and a definitive Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contract ("EPC Contract") with Power Construction Corporation of China, Ltd ("POWERCHINA") for the development of 2ร1,000MW Coal-Fired Power Plant Project ("Power Plant") at the site of the Company's proposed coal mine in North-West Bangladesh. The Power Plant proposed with POWERCHINA is part of the Company's broader strategy to generate 6,000MW of low-cost electricity for the Bangladesh market utilising domestic coal, providing an estimated US$12.5 billion in foreign investment.
POWERCHINA is a central government owned key enterprise of the People's Republic of China, and is a world-leading integrated engineering construction group. In 2018, POWERCHINA ranked 182nd among the Fortune Global 500, 2nd among the top 150 global engineering design companies, 41st among the Top 500 Enterprises of China and 6th among the world's 250 largest global contractors and according to Engineering News-Report. POWERCHINA has 373 overseas offices or branches in 116 countries and business operations in 125 countries and regions. POWERCHINA has completed power plants with 242.75GW of installed capacity and has majority ownership of power plants with 14,402.4MW around the world.
In Bangladesh, POWERCHINA is an investor in and contractor for three large projects, namely, two coal fired power plants with a combined capacity of 1,670MW and a joint venture for the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.
Joint Venture Agreement
Under the terms of the JV Agreement, GCM shall be the lead party on a newly created joint venture company ("JVC") to own the Power Plant. Subject to a mutually agreed valuation of the Power Plant and investment appraisal, the Company will be entitled to an 80% interest in the Power Plant, with POWERCHINA receiving the remaining 20%. The salient roles and responsibilities of each party are:
ยท GCM shall be responsible for obtaining the necessary approvals from the Government of Bangladesh and facilitate preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment;
ยท POWERCHINA shall be responsible for conducting a Feasibility Study and facilitate the inclusion of the Project as a One Belt, One Road Initiative of the People's Republic of China; and
ยท Both parties shall assist in obtaining financing for the development of the Power Plant.
The JV Agreement has a term of 12 months, with the intention that it shall be superseded by a definitive shareholder agreement between the parties, but may be terminated earlier under prescribed conditions.
Definitive EPC Contract
The EPC Contract awards POWERCHINA exclusive rights for engineering, proc