Privatization & Public Procurement
Distinctive expertise in public private partnership projects in several sectors including water & wastewater, electricity, energy, oil & gas and transportation.
The firm is heavily involved in advisory services related to the Kingdom's impressive privatization program spanning different utilities, sectors and services. Our team acts for both the government and private sector bidders in structuring and implementing privatization transactions ranging from the sale of government shares to more complex concessions, including Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) and Build-Own-Operate (BOO) arrangements. We support clients across the full transaction and procurement lifecycle, from project strategy and legal structuring to tender preparation, bid-stage support, negotiation, award, and implementation.
The firm has extensive experience with water, transportation and energy and electricity privatization projects. Some of our recent work includes advising the Aqaba Development Corporation on the multimillion Aqaba Port relocation project, advising an international consortium on the BOT bid for the expansion of the Queen Alia Airport, advising the Ministry of Transport on the BOT bid for the Amman Zarqa Light Railway and the privatization of the Aqaba Railway. The firm has also advised on the framework of private sector participation in the water and wastewater sector in Amman and Aqaba, and has been involved in several small privatization initiatives related to the Aqaba Container Terminal, public transport companies, and auxiliary aviation services. Our role also includes advising on procurement strategy, qualification and tender documentation, allocation of key legal and commercial risks, and the drafting and negotiation of core project and implementation agreements.
Key Highlights
- Distinctive expertise in public private partnership projects in several sectors including water & wastewater, electricity, energy, oil & gas and transportation.
- Handled the privatization of the Jordan Industrial estates land in Aqaba
The firm services in privatization projects include:
Privatization
- Legal Due Diligence.
- Transaction Structuring: Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), direct asset sales, or management buyouts.
- Post-Privatization Support.
- State Aid & Subsidies.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) & Concessions
- Legal Project Finance.
- Concession Agreements. "Build-Operate-Transfer" (BOT) or "Design-Build-Finance-Operate" (DBFO) agreements, Build-own-operate (BOO).
- Risk Allocation.
Public Procurement Services
- Public Procurement Advisory.
- Government contracts.
- Tender Design & Documentation.
- Bid Support & Strategy.
- Compliance & Risk Management.
- Contract Award Disputes.
- Framework Agreements.
Our Expertise in This Practice Area
IBLAW was involved in most significant energy projects in Jordan, and on economic liberalizations deals that aimed to liberalization of the market.
The firm has been closely involved with the major regulatory and transactional developments in the privatization of the energy and electricity sectors in Jordan. For example, IBLAW represented major lending institutions in the establishment of Jordan's first independent power plant and is currently working on the fourth plant to be constructed in the coming year. IBLAW has also advised on restructuring the regulatory framework in Jordan and the Palestinian National Authority on the establishment of a pioneering fund for alternative energy solutions. We also advise on the legal and regulatory interface required for bankable project structures and long-term private sector participation in regulated energy markets.