Energy Commercial, Financial & Regulatory Expert at Cities for Infrastructure Growth Zambia

Cities and Infrastructure for Growth Zambia

Position: Energy Commercial, Financial & Regulatory Expert

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Start Date: Immediate

Contract: Short-term; six (6) weeks

About Cities and Infrastructure for Growth Zambia (CIGZambia):

CIGZambia is a facility that provides high-quality independent technical advice and assistance to Zambian government bodies and private sector organisations engaged in projects /programmes that help harness the potential of Zambia’s cities and towns to act as drivers for economic growth and job creation. CIGZambia is funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID).

The overall programme objectives are:

• increasing urban productivity;
• improving inclusive access to urban economic infrastructure services;
• increasing investment into urban economic infrastructure services; and,
• enhancing national and regional integration between cities.

About the Role

CIGZambia is seeking a Lusaka-based technical advisor to support the work of a flexible and demand-driven technical assistance programme as the Energy Commercial, Financial & Regulatory Expert. Reporting to the Energy Component Lead, they will play a critical role in achieving the overall programme objectives.

Project Responsibilities

• Analyse the commercial terms of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) entered into between ZESCO and various IPPs
• Analyse the terms of fuel supply contracts entered into by IPPs for the purpose of generating power for ZESCO to establish whether they are at ‘arm’s length’
• Assist IDC / ZESCO in developing a re-negotiation strategy for various Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) entered into between ZESCO and IPPs
• Provide further advice to IDC and ZESCO as required pursuant to the above
• Domestic candidates highly encouraged to apply. If international candidates, two (2) round trips included

Immediate Requirement

• Review of existing Power Purchase Agreements with two large IPPs on behalf of IDC / ZESCO, taking into account key financial and commercial terms
• Benchmarking PPAs against international norms for hydro / thermal IPPs taking into account fuel costs, operating costs, macro-economic assumptions and financing assumptions
• Identify assumptions in PPAs that may be prejudicial to ZESCO
• Recommend negotiation strategy to IDC / ZESCO for tariff renegotiation with IPPs
• Assist IDC / ZESCO in re-negotiations if requested

Key Qualifications

• Professional Qualification in Engineering or Finance
• Held Senior Management Position in Financial / Commercial Role in a Power Utility, Advisory Firm or Financial Institution
• Commercial Negotiation Experience in Project Financing for Independent Power Producer (‘IPP’) Projects
• Experience in Power Sector in Developing Countries (preferably Sub-Saharan Africa)
• Knowledge of thermal and hydro IPPs

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