Completed Development AidData Chinese Aid

China Eximbank provides RMB 600 million government concessional loan for Port of St John’s Renovation and Extension Project

¥600K RMB

Funder	Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank)
Recipient Organization	Government of Antigua and Barbuda
Country	Antigua and Barbuda
Start Date	Dec 15, 2016
End Date	Feb 02, 2033
Duration	5,893 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`54912`

Grant Description

China Eximbank provides RMB 600 million government concessional loan for Port of St John’s Renovation and Extension Project On December 21, 2007, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with regard to utilizing a Chinese Government Concessional Loan to execute the Port of St John’s Renovation and Extension Project.

On November 18, 2013, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with regard to utilizing a Chinese Government Concessional Loan to execute the Port of St John’s Renovation and Extension Project.

Then, on November 11, 2014, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda submitted a project proposal and application for a Chinese Government Concessional Loan to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Antigua.

On December 22, 2014, Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority and CCECC signed an RMB 1,590,000,000 commercial (‘design and construction’) contract (#AB/PMP-01) for the Port of St John’s Renovation and Extension Project.

Then, on May 25, 2015, Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority and CCECC signed a revised commercial contract (#AB/PMP-02) worth RMB 585,000,000.

Then, on November 25, 2016, the Export-Import Bank of China and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda signed a framework agreement for a RMB 600 million government concessional loan (GCL) for the Port of St John’s Renovation and Extension Project.

Less than a month later, on December 15, 2016, the Export-Import Bank of China and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda signed an RMB 600 million government concessional loan (GCL) for the Port of St John’s Renovation and Extension Project.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda then on-lent the proceeds of the loan to Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority (with a sovereign guarantee).

The GCL carried the following borrowing terms: a 2 percent interest rate, a grace period of 5-years, and a maturity of 21.272-years. The final maturity date of the GCL is March 19, 2038.

The proceeds of the GCL were to be used by the borrower to finance the RMB 585,000,000 commercial contract that was signed on May 25, 2015.

The remaining RMB 15,000,000 was to be used by the borrower to finance a contract with Guangxi Bagui Project Supervision and Consultant Co.

Ltd for project management and supervision activities related to the Port of St John’s Renovation and Extension Project.

The borrower also agreed to deposit the operating income generated by the project in an escrow account to support debt service requirements. The purpose of the project was to bring about the long-awaited transformation of the St.

John’s Port from a break-bulk facility to a modern container port facility that is capable of increasing annual cargo throughput from 16,000 containers to 80,000 containers.

It involved the construction of a new Customs and Port Authority headquarters, the expansion of a quay (extension of the existing pier), the construction of a new warehouse for processing goods, the extension of a sea wall, the dredging of the harbor, and the establishment of a logistics park.

Some of the expected project benefits include improved ship-to-shore interface; greater efficiency in the clearance of goods; automated scanning and computerized handling/clearance of goods; reduced ground transportation costs, and greater ease of doing business. CCECC was the EPC contractor responsible for project implementation.

A formal groundbreaking ceremony took place on January 15, 2018. However, the project did not commence until September 8, 2018. It was originally envisaged that the project would take three years to implement.

Satellite imagery suggests that, as of July 2020, a 320-meter quay expansion and the construction of a new warehouse were complete (or nearly completed).

Satellite imagery from July 2020 also suggests that, on the northern side of the port, land had been built up for what is likely the new sea wall and a set of buildings and a parking lot had been constructed, while another pier to the south was being added to the existing cruise terminal.

The construction of the container terminal was officially completed and handed over to the local authorities on October 13, 2020. St.

John’s Port has reportedly become the only port with professional container transshipment terminal and automated cross-transshipment capacity in eastern Caribbean region, thus helping Antigua and Barbuda in building itself into a regional logistics center and promoting the country’s economic and social development.

The project was ultimately completed in September 2022. A formal completion ceremony was organized on December 8, 2022.

📋 Staff Comments

This project is also known as the St John’s Port Redevelopment Project, the St. John’s Deep Water Harbor Rehabilitation Project, the Port at Rat Island Renovation Project, and the Deep Water Harbour Project. The Chinese project title is 安巴深水港改扩建项目 or 承建的圣约翰港改扩建项目 or 安提瓜和巴布达圣约翰港改扩建项目.
The December 21, 2007 MOU and the November 18, 2013 MOU between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) can be accessed via https://www.dropbox.com/s/vjkox4a9z6hvfns/21%20December%202007%20MOU%20on%20St.%20John%27s%20Deep%20Water%20Harbour%20Development%20Project.pdf?dl=0 and https://www.dropbox.com/s/akcffqqsxxs6vfz/18%20December%202013%20MOU%20on%20St.%20John%27s%20Deep%20Water%20Harbour%20Project.pdf?dl=0.
A July 2014 project proposal for the Port of St John’s Renovation and Extension Project can be accessed via https://www.dropbox.com/s/luya8dpkut98a9b/7%20July%202014%20Port%20of%20St.%20Johns%20Modernization%20Project%20Proposal.pdf?dl=0/.
The commercial contracts signed by the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority and CCECC on December 22, 2014 and May 25, 2015 can be accessed via https://www.dropbox.com/s/y3f7rh54vbkvkm7/22%20Deccember%202014%20Commercial%20Contract%20for%20Port%20of%20St.%20John%27s%20Modernization%20Project.pdf?dl=0 and https://www.dropbox.com/s/5pawronfq6emxqt/25%20May%202015%20Commmercial%20Contract%20for%20Port%20of%20St.%20Johns%20Renovation%20and%20Extension%20Project.pdf?dl=0.
A May 2015 project proposal for the Port of St John’s Renovation and Extension Project can be accessed via https://www.dropbox.com/s/z2qtnkni33g4e3n/Port%20of%20St.%20John%27s%20Renovation%20Project%20Proposal%20Part%201.pdf?dl=0 and https://www.dropbox.com/s/3lgdcju59gqm64b/Port%20of%20St.%20John%27s%20Renovation%20Project%20Proposal%20Part%202.pdf?dl=0.
An official waiver of the tendering requirements for the St John’s Renovation and Extension Project (issued on July 17, 2015) can be accessed via https://www.dropbox.com/s/r6j9yoq45nju732/17%20July%202015%20Waiver%20of%20Tender%20for%20St.%20Johns%20Port%20Redevelopment%20Project.pdf?dl=0.
A July 20, 2015 framework agreement for consultancy services between the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority and Guangxi Bagui Project Supervision and Consultant Co. Ltd can be accessed via https://www.dropbox.com/s/cj3gio0o431re48/20%20July%202015%20Framework%20Agreement%20for%20Consultancy%20Service%20for%20Port%20of%20St.%20John%27s%20Renovation%20and%20Extension%20Project.pdf?dl=0.
Official correspondence between the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and China Eximbank’s Concessional Loan Department on July 31, 2015 can be accessed via https://www.dropbox.com/s/xgmc4fqmpy9ich9/31%20July%202015%20Letter%20to%20Concessional%20Loan%20Department%20of%20China%20Eximbank.pdf?dl=0.
Official correspondence between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and China Eximbank on August 10, 2015 can be accessed via https://www.dropbox.com/s/bzw9wwk21hslnne/10%20August%202015%20Letter%20from%20Government%20of%20Antigua%20and%20Barbuda%20to%20China%20Eximbank.pdf?dl=010. One official source (http://www.eximbank.gov.cn/aboutExim/annals/2021_877/202306/U020230609413828602225.pdf) identifies the project completion date as September 2022. This issue warrants further investigation.
The loan's original commitment and maturity dates are identified on PDF pg. 752 of https://ab.gov.ag/pdf/budget/2021_Antigua_Estimates.pdf

📚 Sources & References

Antigua-Barbuda to embark on US$90 million renovation of deep water port, 2019 Budget Presentation
Government of Antigua and Barbuda
Port officials explain why U.S $90 million project was delayed
Developments of the Antigua Port Authority Project
St John’s project benefits cruise sector
EXPANDING OUR WEALTH: UNITING TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE, 2019 Budget Statement
ENTREPRENEURIAL SOCIALISM: THE FOUNDATION OF AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE
Port Redevelopment Project Launch
ST JOHN'S
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA -21 JAN 2018- View of a large billboard advertising a Chinese investment project in the St John's Harbour Port Redevelopment Project in St John's
Antigua.
Port of St. John's Renovation & Extension Project, 2017 Budget Statement
安提瓜和巴布达圣约翰港口改扩建项目开工典礼隆重举行
驻安提瓜和巴布达大使王宪民出席安巴圣约翰港口改扩建项目开工仪式
驻安提瓜和巴布达大使王宪民陪同安巴总理贾斯顿·布朗听取安巴深水港改扩建项目设计汇报
驻安提瓜和巴布达大使王宪民与安巴总理布朗签署圣约翰港改扩建项目优贷框架协议
驻安提瓜和巴布达大使王宪民春节前夕慰问安巴中资企业并进行安全巡视
驻安提瓜和巴布达大使王宪民对在安巴中资企业进行安全巡视, 2017 Budget Statement
Antigua & Barbuda's 2016 Budget Statement
驻安提瓜和巴布达大使孙昂考察中国驻安巴大使馆馆舍项目及圣约翰港口改扩建项目工地
Design and Construction Contract on Port of St. John's Renovation and Extension Project of Antigua & Barbuda
Contract No. AB/PMP-01 Design and Construction Contract on Port of St. John's Modernization Project of Antigua & Barbuda
Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of Understanding of the Rehabilitation Project of Antigua St. John's Deep Water Harbour
Waiver of Tender for the Port Redevelopment Project
Contractural Agreements between the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation
Antigua Port Authority Port Development Proposal
Ambassador Sun Ang congratulates the handover of the Ro-Ro terminal of the Anbar deep-water port project
Crucial Upgrade for Infrastructure
Chinese tourism investments flow into Antigua and Barbuda despite risks
China's BRI in Latin America: Case Study - Ports
Concessional Loan Application - The Port of St. John's Renovation and Extension Project
Evaluation Presentation to the Export-Import Bank of China on the Port of St. John's Renovation and Extension Project
Project Proposal for Port of St. John's Renovation and Extension Project of Antigua and Barbuda
Port of St. John's Renovation and Project Proposal (part 2)
Framework Agreement for Consultancy Services For Port of St. John's Renovation and Extension Project of Antigua and Barbuda, 90 Million Dollar Renovation to Commence at Deep Water Port
Antigua & Barbuda Recurrent and Development Estimates
THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF CHINA 2022 ANNUAL REPORT, 2022 BUDGET STATEMENT
驻安提瓜和巴布达大使张艳玲出席我援安巴圣约翰港改扩建项目竣工典礼
安巴圣约翰港改扩建项目——“带来新机遇的利民工程”
Antigua & Barbuda 2021 Budget Estimates
St. John's Harbor project in Antigua and Barbuda completed
Export-Import Bank of China Financed Antigua and Barbuda St John's Port Expansion Project Completed Successfully, 'People's Daily' Focuses on St. John's Port Reconstruction and Expansion Project Supported by Exim Bank Financing, 2022 Throne Speech Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.

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