Mayer Brown advises the Republic of Benin on major LNG project

Mayer Brown is advising the Republic of Benin on the development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import floating terminal and the supply of up to 0,5 million tonnes per annum of regasified LNG to the country. 

The Republic of Benin, the Société Béninoise d’Energie Electrique (SBEE) and Total, the second-largest private global LNG player, signed the gas supply agreement and the host government agreement for the installation of the first floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) in sub-Sahara Africa, to be located offshore Benin and connected to the existing and planned power plants in Maria Gléta via pipeline. Total will import LNG into Benin from its global LNG portfolio and sell gas to SBEE for use by existing and planned power plants at Maria Gléta for 15 years, with gas deliveries expected to start in 2021.

Mayer Brown was selected by the Republic of Benin because of its market-leading position in the LNG and gas supply industries and its very active Francophone Africa practice, notably on power production projects and other major infrastructures. The Mayer Brown team was led by Banking & Finance partner Olivier Mélédo (Paris) and includes: Banking & Finance — counsel Hervé Kensicher and associate Stéphane Joly (both Paris); Corporate & Securities — partner Thomas Moore and associate Federica Castro (both Houston); and Litigation & Dispute Resolution partner Michael Lennon (Houston).