Eversheds has advised Petrojetty Company Limited, an affiliate of Oryx Energies, on a public private partnership (PPP) concession for the development and operation of a new state-of-the-art petroleum jetty at Sierra Leone’s key import and export facility, the Kissy Oil Terminal, Freetown.

The agreement grants Petrojetty the right to design, construct and operate a jetty for the import and export of petroleum products, edible oils and biothanol. The new jetty, which is expected to be completed by early 2015, will increase capacity, comply with international standards and facilitate access with international markets efficiently and economically.

Petrojetty will develop and operate the jetty for 21 years in a PPP with the Government of Sierra Leone after which the facilities will revert to Sierra Leone’s Port Authority. Oryx Energies signed a concession agreement with Sierra Leone’s authorities in October 2013 and the agreement was ratified by the country’s parliament in February 2014.

The Eversheds team, led by Partner Howard Barrie working principally with Lucy Chadwick and Lynne Wells, and local counsel Berthan Macaulay Jnr. advised Petrojetty Ltd and Oryx Energies, on all legal aspects of the concession agreement and its negotiations with the various government stakeholders.

Howard Barrie said:

"The new jetty will increase the amount of hydrocarbon products that can be imported in a much safer environmental way. It is strategically important for the country’s growing energy needs. The Government, through the National Commission for Privatisation, decided on using a public private partnership, an innovative approach for Sierra Leone, with a private sector entity being responsible for the new jetty’s development and operation.

"Africa offers a wealth of opportunities for new infrastructure projects and we are pleased to have played our part in such a vital and novel development for Sierra Leone."