United Arab Emirates—Dentons has advised the Sharqiyah Desalination Company SAOG (SDC) on the expansion and refinancing of the Sur desalination project in Oman.  Dentons acted as both international and Omani law counsel. The project cost will be approximately US$200 million and will add an additional 10.6 million imperial gallons per day capacity to the existing plant. The project is a unique world-class solution for Sharqiyah region, which is growing in economic importance and population.
 
Jon Nash, Dentons' Energy, Transport and Infrastructure Partner, who also advised sponsors Sumitomo Corporation and Malakoff International on the Ghubrah desalination project, the last Omani IWP to reach financial close, commented, "Working with long-standing client SDC and its major shareholders, Veolia and the Bahwan group, was especially satisfying in this case as we worked together to meet the urgent increasing water needs of the Sharqiyah region.  It was a complex transaction, particularly as it involved a brownfield expansion and a refinancing but even more rewarding to close given its importance for the region."
 
The Dentons' team was led by Partners Jon Nash and Udayan Mukherjee, advising on the project and finance documentation respectively, and supported by Associates Carina Onzer, Zehra Or and Annabel Levick (all UAE based).  Partner Sadaf Buchanan, with the support of Associate Shamsa al Lamki (both Muscat based) advised on Omani law matters. Paris office Managing Partner Pascal Chadenet and Associate Seth Engel also supported on French law matters.
 
Dentons is committed to the investment and development of the infrastructure sector in Oman and across the Middle East.  Dentons is also currently advising Hyflux on its bid to develop and finance the Qurayat IWP. Earlier this month, Dentons also advised Sumitomo Chemical on the US$8 billion Petro Rabigh petrochemical complex expansion in Saudi Arabia, one of a number of landmark transactions in recent months.