EPIK Co. Ltd. (EPIK), a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project development company, announced today that it has appointed Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) to serve as financial adviser for its Newcastle GasDock LNG import terminal.
ANZ will provide debt and equity advisory services for EPIK’s flagship FSRU project at the Port of Newcastle in New South Wales (NSW) in the lead up to a Final Investment Decision (FID), anticipated in mid-2020.
“We are pleased to be partnering with EPIK as financial adviser in the development of this critical infrastructure project, which is uniquely positioned to provide competitive gas supply to the region,” said Ian Wainwright, ANZ Executive Director.
In August, the Government of New South Wales declared EPIK’s Newcastle GasDock LNG import terminal project as Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI), recognizing the project for its vital role in providing long-term energy and gas security to the region.
“ANZ adds tremendous financial and advisory expertise to the Newcastle GasDock project as we continue to make significant commercial and regulatory progress,” said Jee Yoon, EPIK’s Managing Director. “We have confidence that with ANZ’s assistance we will be able to secure optimal capital resources for the project, allowing us to provide the most competitive supply to the region.”
NSW currently relies on interstate imports for approximately 95% of its gas supply and recent changes in the domestic market have resulted in significant market volatility and price increases, negatively impacting industry and households across the State. As proposed, the Newcastle GasDock terminal will be capable of supplying more than 80% of NSW’s current gas demand, with the potential to increase throughput as demand requires.
In addition to EPIK’s recent engagement with ANZ, the Newcastle GasDock project is supported by leading advisers and consultants, including environmental and planning support from Arup, engineering, design and construction services from Australian EPC firm, Watpac, as well as legal and regulatory counsel from K&L Gates, among others.
About EPIK Co. Ltd.
EPIK is an LNG project development company focused on originating and developing FSRU project opportunities across the globe, including its flagship Newcastle GasDock LNG terminal project at the Port of Newcastle, NSW. With LNG increasingly becoming the fuel of choice in today’s environmentally conscious market, global LNG trade is at an all-time high, and with continued positive market growth projections spanning well into the 2030s, EPIK specializes in the origination and development of floating LNG regasification projects in regions with high natural gas demand. EPIK’s Newcastle GasDock project, critical to NSW’s future security and reliability of gas supply, is being developed by wholly-owned EPIK subsidiary Newcastle GasDock Company Pty. Ltd. and is proposed to include a 170,000m3 class FSRU and associated on-shore infrastructure. For more, visit www.epiklng.com
