In line with Egypt’s goals of environmental conservation and sustainable development, Shahid Law Firm has successfully grown its energy and renewables practice into a focused team of highly skilled lawyers with exceptional industry insight and in-depth knowledge of sector trends and developments, both locally and regionally, placing the Firm at the forefront of a vast array of emerging projects in the renewable energy sector.
Our team combines long-standing expertise in corporate matters with an acute understanding of the dynamics of the energy and power sectors, hands-on experience in the set-up and financing of projects, solid dispute resolution practice, and an understanding of the governmental and regulatory framework in Egypt as we have been working closely with the various ministries and departments, including Egypt ERA, EETC and NREA to create ultimately bankable power purchase agreements for the various power generation schemes.
Some of the areas we regularly cover include assisting conventional and renewable energy companies in negotiations with potential and existing business partners and ministries in Egypt, as well as managing disputes between developers and Egyptian governmental entities. Clients have also been relying on our insightful and timely advice on project finance and infrastructure for many years.
As a leading law firm in the field of clean/renewable energy, the Firm is currently acting for a significant number of international developers in the establishment of over thirty renewable energy companies, in connection with the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) Program. The companies’ operations range between solar and wind energy farms’ development, EPC and O&M.
Our dedicated team is committed to providing high quality pragmatic advice in the areas of drafting and reviewing agreements, including power purchase, land usufruct cost, sharing and network connection agreements; liaising and negotiating with the various renewable energy authorities; providing sector-specific corporate and employment law advice; financing; M&A transactions and restructuring; real estate and regulatory advice; and handling administrative proceedings.
Our clients comprise international and domestic conventional and clean energy developers, power plant operators, production companies, energy trading companies, and large consumers of energy, as well as international civil engineering firms. The Firm also represents a large number of sponsors, lenders, agents and operators in connection with the financing, planning, structuring and construction of solar power plants and solar panel manufacturing facilities, as well as with acquisitions of solar energy businesses.
- Drafting and reviewing agreements, including power purchase, usufruct cost, sharing and network connection agreements;
- Liaising and negotiating with the various renewable energy authorities;
- Providing sector-specific corporate and employment law advice;
- Financing;
- M&A transactions and restructuring;
- Real estate and regulatory advice; and
- Handling administrative proceedings.
- Advising Voltalia on the implementation of the local security related to their USD 25 million PV power facility in Egypt, as well as on the engineering, procurement and construction regulatory and labour requirements of the project. Voltalia is developing a 25MWac solar PV power project under the Egyptian feed-in tariff programme.
- Advising EDF International Network, a subsidiary of the EDF group in charge of developing projects of engineering, consulting and management services in the field of networks, in connection with a joint venture between Egyptian French Electricity Distribution Company and the New Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD) for the distribution of electricity to the New Administrative Capital.
- Acting as local legal advisor to EDF EN, ElSewedy Electric, Scatec Solar and Voltalia in achieving financial closure under Round 2 of the Egyptian Feed-In Tariff (FIT) Programme. The four companies are developing nine projects in Benban with a total capacity of 425MW, and two of them are also providing engineering, procurement, construction operation and maintenance services to projects, in addition to their development activities.
- Advising four separate developers (including Scatec Solar, which was the second-lowest bidder) on the tender for the 200MW solar project in Kom Ombo valued at USD 4 million.
- Advising on seven solar projects under the Egyptian FIT Programme with a total capacity of about 350MW in connection with corporate and structuring aspects, which are mainly financed by EBRD and IFC.
- Representing a number of international developers in their acquisition of minority stakes with call options for future increase of their equity participation in renewable energy project companies incorporated under the Egyptian FIT Programme.
- Advising a number of international solar and wind energy developers including Canadian Solar, Desert Technologies, EDF Energies Nouvelles, Engie, Scatec Solar, Solar Reserve, SunEdison,Taqa Arabia, Voltalia and X-elio in connection with the Egyptian FIT Programme, and on the development of over 1 GW of solar and wind energy.
- Advising Globeleq Africa Limited on the structure of the contemplated acquisition to comply with the requirements of the PPA and other Principal Project Agreements, and obtaining a waiver from the relevant authorities, as well as handling any notification, and obtaining any approval which may be required to/from the competent authorities in Egypt (e.g. EgyptERA, EETC or NREA).
- Advising New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), alongside PwC and Eversheds, in connection with the development of a 200MW wind farm project in the Gulf of Suez with UAE company Masdar.
- Advising NREA and the Alexandria Port Authority in concluding a multi million USD Cooperation Agreement with DEME Group for the establishment of a three-phased industrial-scale green hydrogen production facility in Egypt’s western desert. Known as the HYPORT Gargoub project, it is part of a fully integrated strategy to generate and transmit electricity and water, resulting in 100% green hydrogen.
- Assisting US insurance and reinsurance companies with respect to an insurance dispute relating to damages sustained by a Solar Island Integrated Combined Cycle Power Plant owned by Orascom Construction Industries and insured for the benefit of Flagsol GmbH in the area of Kuraymat in Egypt.
- Advising Italgen on its negotiations with New and Renewable Energy Authority and EETC in connection with the development of 320 MW wind power project under the merchant scheme in the Gulf of Suez, subsequently converted to a BOO project, as well as on potential exit options.
- Assisting the Spanish manufacturer of wind turbines, Gamesa Eolica, with its discussions and negotiations with NREA with respect to its projects in Egypt with a total capacity of 360MW in the Red Sea Governorate, financed by a consortium of Spanish, Japanese, German and Danish funders.
- Advising the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, alongside PwC, VIS and Eversheds on the enhancement of the corporate and market governance within EEHC and its affiliated companies in light of the Electricity Law of 2015.
- Advising The Egyptian National Railways Authority on the legal environment, introducing the legislations relevant to the restructuring of the current governmental controlled freight business to include private sector they players, and advising on the appropriate legal methodology of achieving restructuring plan.
- Advising Novatek, the largest independent natural gas producer in Russia, on the acquisition of a well-established upstream petroleum company operating in the Western Desert of Egypt.
- Representing Engineering Automotive, Manufacturing Co. (EAMCO), an affiliate to the Ministry Public Business Sector, in signing a cooperation agreement with “Brightskies Company” to locally develop and manufacture primary components of electric vehicles. This agreement comes within the framework of Egyptian government direction to expand on using electric vehicles, and to localize this growing industry in Egypt.
- Acting for PTT Energy Resources Company Limited (PTTER) in a first-of-its-kind investment USD 1 billion treaty claim brought before Cairo’s Administrative Court, the claim is based entirely on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT).
- Advising Edison International in relation to the Joint Development Agreement signed with Qalaa company to build a gas-powered combined cycle plant in Abu Qir (Alexandria, Egypt). The 180 MW power plant is expected to bring more efficient and sustainable energy to Egyptian customers.
- Advising a US-based Investment Fund on the contemplated bid process for the acquisition of Shell’s Divestment of its onshore assets/interests in fifteen (15) onshore Concession Agreements, and twenty-two (22) related Development Leases and Exploration Blocks in Western Desert (including the Badr El-Din and Obaiyed area).
- Advising one of the leading developers on the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Egyptian Government for the establishment of an up to 2,000 MW Solar Power Plant; and another developer on the establishment of a 6,000 MW coal-fired Power Plant.
- Advising various renewable energy developers on the optimal utilization of local and foreign currency and on matters of financing for their projects.
- Advising a leading IPP power producer operating and developing power projects in Africa on the acquisition of two projects under the solar Egyptian FIT Programme with a capacity of 75MW with transaction documents governed by Egyptian, English and Dutch laws.
- Advising a leading French renewable energy group on the acquisition of a 45% stake in a local solar technology and integration company.
- Advising one of the largest electric utility companies in Malaysia in the context of its investment in a 740 MW gas-fired combined project plant in Banha, Egypt, developed by a leading Gulf infrastructure projects developer.
- Advising various EPC contractors on the structuring and set up of their presence in Egypt, as well as on any required registration with the competent governmental bodies for carrying out EPC activities.
- Advising a Fortune 200 world leading power company on Egyptian law following its pre-qualification by the Egyptian Electricity Authority to submit a proposal for the development of two BOOT 325 MW steam cycle units capable of firing natural gas and fuel oil in Sidi Krir, Egypt, including aspects relating to financing, design, procurement, construction, completion, testing, operation and maintenance of the plant.
- Assisting one of the major Greek shipping and trading companies in implementing a multi million USD project relating to the bunkering and exportation of green ammonia as well as the bunkering of LNG at Port Said Port.
- Advising an Egyptian company specialized in the transmission of natural gas in entering a billion-dollar agreement for transmission of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial areas and power stations in Egypt.
- Advising one of the largest private sector energy distribution groups in implementing multi-billion EGP purchases of several gas stations across Egypt.
- Advising a foreign client specializing in petroleum product supply on the most effective method to supply a full range of products to a leading national oil and gas company.
