On February 19, 2019, Resolution No. 52/19 (hereinafter, the “Resolution”), issued by the Secretary of Government of Energy, has been published in the Official Gazette, with significant relevance towards Power Purchase Agreements (“PPA”) awarded under RenovAr 2.

This Resolution states the goal to facilitate the construction and successful commercial operation date (“COD”) of all projects acting within RenovAr 2, and therefore allows for extension of dates committed under the PPA (intermediate milestones and COD) insofar certain conditions are met, as further detailed below.

In order to apply for an extension of intermediate milestones, pertaining filings before the relevant authorities must be performed no later than April 30, 2019. COD extension shall be requested 15 business days in advance as from the original date committed for such milestone.

Below you may find an outline of most relevant aspects set forth in the Resolution:
 
1) Extension of PPA intermediate milestones

Upon the issuance of this Resolution, owners of RenovAr 2 projects may require an extension of 180 days of each intermediate milestone under the PPA.

Said extension of time sets forth a mandatory prior increase of the PPA Compliance Bond in force at that time, on an amount equal to thirty percent (30%) of the guarantee’s original amount. Should prior increases have been performed, the guarantee may be reduced up to the original amount plus such thirty percent (30%).

The Resolution also foresees that if such intermediate milestone elapses (including 180 day-extension) the guarantee shall also be increased in a twenty percent (20%) per milestone, over the guaranteed amount at such time.

Filings in order to apply for these extensions must be performed no later than April 30, 2019, while the increase of the compliance bond shall be in place before the execution of the relevant addendum of the PPA.
 
2) Extension of COD

COD may also be extended pursuant to the terms of this Resolution, for a maximum term of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days further to the original date committed for such milestone. Two of the following three conditions shall be met in order to benefit from an extension in COD:

  1. Achieve thirty percent (30%) of Stated Local Content (“SLC”). This condition shall be considered as fulfilled for those projects that have already committed, at least, said percentage of SLC under their PPAs. Penalties equal to forty per cent (40%) of the monthly billing under the PPA shall be applied for each percentage point of deficiency in the compliance with the SLC. Additionally, a reduction of the PPA’s term and of the Incentive Factor, in accordance with the conditions settled below, shall apply.
  2. Reduction of the PPA tenor: accept a proportional reduction of the PPA tenor equal to six times the amount of days that COD is extended (e.g. if the new COD is 360 days after original COD was committed, PPA should be reduced in almost six years).
  3. Reduction of the Incentive Factor in accordance to the formula set out therein

If COD has yet not been achieved (as this date may be extended pursuant to the above), the PPA’s cure period of one hundred and eighty (180) days shall apply (notwithstanding the obligation of paying penalties under the PPA). In case the project does not achieve its COD within said cure period, an additional cure period of extra one hundred and eighty (180) days will be applicable in accordance to Resolution No. 285/18.

COD extension must be requested fifteen (15) business days in advance of the original COD before CAMMESA. For those projects which COD is on or before March 15 2019, the referred filing shall be performed no later than March 29, 2019.
 
3) Execution of pending PPAs

Finally, the Resolution foresees, for those RenovAr 2 projects that have not yet executed their PPAs, the possibility to do so. Two of the following three conditions must be selected:

  1. Achieve thirty percent (30%) of SLC. Penalties equal to fifty per cent (50%) of the monthly billing under the PPA shall applied for each percentage point of deficiency in the compliance with the SLC. Additionally, a reduction of the PPA’s term and of the Incentive Factor, in accordance with the conditions settled below, shall apply.
  2. Reduction of the PPA tenor: in six (6) years, resulting in a new tenor of fourteen (14) years.
  3. Elimination of the Incentive Factor in accordance to the form settled by the Resolution.

The PPA’s execution shall be done on or before April 30, 2019 and it shall be requested before CAMMESA ten (10) business days in advance.

For these PPAs, intermediate milestones shall be calculated since June 1, 2018, notwithstanding IPPs right to request for an extension of these dates as described above.

Finally, the Resolutions enables to change the Strategic Partner under the PPA. Said change shall be requested fifteen (15) days in advance to April 30, 2019.