Gilbert + Tobin has advised Syrah Resources in relation to its procurement of a hybrid plant to assist with the powering of the Balama graphite operation located in Mozambique (“Balama”). Funding for the project is being provided by CrossBoundary Energy.

The G+T team was instrumental on negotiating various aspects of the deal under a build-own-operate-transfer (“BOOT”) arrangement, in relation to the construction, installation, commissioning and 10-year operation of a solar and battery hybrid power plant at Balama.

This project is significant as it will yield approximately 35% reduction in diesel consumed for power generation at the mine. During peak daylight times, the Solar Battery System will be able to supply up to 100% of Balama’s power requirements. Balama is currently powered by a 15MW on-site diesel generation power plant, which is 100% Syrah owned and operated.

Energy + Infrastructure partner Alexander Danne said, “We are proud to have been involved in the installation of a large-scale solar and battery hybrid power system which is expected to reduce Balama CO2 equivalent emissions and operating costs”.

Working inconjunction with Syrah’s Head of Legal (Andrew Komesaroff) and Commercial Manager (Oz Hassan), the Gilbert + Tobin team was led by Head of Energy + Infrastructure Alexander Danne, with special counsel Lloyd Chater as lead negotiator and lawyer Kestin Brown.

Gilbert + Tobin has one of Australia’s leading energy transaction practices. Landmark deals on which G+T has advised on include advising the PowAR Consortium on the $3 billion take private of Tilt Renewables, Infigen on its competing takeover bids by Iberdrola and UAC for approx. $900 million and Tilt Renewables sale of Snowtown 2 for over $1 billion. Gilbert + Tobin also advises a broad range of developers and contractors in the renewable energy sector in relation to project development.