Overview
Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi focuses her practice on international project development and finance transactions and is Asia Head of Transactions. She has more than two decades of experience representing developers, sponsors, commercial lenders, multilateral agencies, export credit agencies, and governments on a wide variety of international projects including in the Americas, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam, advising on many of the Asian region’s landmark power, oil and gas, petrochemicals, infrastructure, and mining projects.
Clarinda has exceptional experience in the Indonesian oil and gas sector, having advised oil majors, foreign investors, the Indonesian government, Pertamina, the Indonesian Ministry of Mines and Energy, and the Indonesian upstream oil and gas regulatory agency, SKKMIGAS, on the development and financing of Indonesia’s most important oil and gas and petrochemical projects.
Clarinda also has regional corporate experience and has been involved in structuring and completing cross-border joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity investments for the US and other international clients on a variety of structured transactions involving multiple jurisdictions. She has also advised on several of the largest and most complex debt restructurings in Asia.
Consistently ranked in the top tier for projects in Indonesia, Singapore, and across Asia-Pacific, and recognized as a leading lawyer for banking & finance in Singapore by Chambers Asia-Pacific, Clarinda earns praise from peers and clients alike for her outstanding oil and gas, energy, and infrastructure practice. She is described as “very well known in the market” and “an absolutely solid lawyer: persuasive and great at negotiating.’” Clients note that “no one knows how to navigate deals in Indonesia like she does,” she has “in-depth knowledge of Indonesia and gets the deal done.”
The American Lawyer has named her “Project Finance Lawyer of the Year” in its Emerging Markets Awards and Euromoney has twice honored her with its Asia Women Business Law Awards for “Best in Energy and Natural Resources”. Clarinda is also named in International Financial Law Review and Legal 500 Asia-Pacific as a leading lawyer for project finance and recognized by Who’s Who Legal as a Global Leader in project finance and electricity/power and a National Leader in Southeast Asia in energy and project finance.
Read Clarinda’s biography in Japanese here.
Results
Power (Renewable & Conventional)
- Sarulla Geothermal Power Project, Indonesia – JBIC, ADB, and the commercial bank lenders in the US$1.17 billion project financing for the development of the 330-MW Sarulla Geothermal Power Project in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia. At the time of completion, the project was the largest single geothermal power project in Indonesia and one of the pioneer new generation geothermal power projects being developed under Indonesia’s new geothermal regulations and the Fast Track 2 program. This project was awarded “Asia Pacific Power Deal of the Year” by Infrastructure Journal Global (IJ Global); “Asia Pacific Power Deal of the Year” by Project Finance International; and honored by Trade & Export Finance as the “Most innovative ECA/Project Finance Deal of the Year”*
- Muara Laboh Geothermal Power Project, Indonesia – ADB, JBIC, NEXI, and the commercial bank lenders in the US$440 million project financing for the development of the 80-MW Muara Laboh Geothermal Power Project in West Sumatra, Indonesia. This is one of the pioneer new generation geothermal projects undertaken under the Fast Track 2 program and one of the first projects to successfully negotiate the new agreed bankable form of government support under the Fast Track 2 program. This project was awarded “Geothermal Power Project of the Year” by Gold Award’s Asian Power Awards 2021*
- Rantau Dedap Geothermal Power Project, Indonesia – ADB, JBIC, and the commercial bank lenders in the US$700 million project financing for the development of the 98.4-MW Rantau Dedap Geothermal Power Project in South Sumatra, Indonesia. This is one of the pioneer new generation geothermal projects undertaken under the Fast Track 2 program and one of the first projects to successfully negotiate the new, agreed bankable form of government support under the Fast Track 2 program. This project received the “Renewable Energy Deal of the Year Award” by The Asset’s Asset Triple A Awards 2019*
- Semangka Hydroelectric Power Project, Indonesia – Korea Midland Power Co. Ltd., POSCO Engineering Co. Ltd., PT BS Energy, PT Nusantara Hydro Alam, and PT Tanggamus Electric Power in the project financing of the 2 x 28.3-MW Semangka Hydroelectric power project in Sumatra, Indonesia*
- Wayang Windu Geothermal Expansion Project, Indonesia – Standard Chartered Bank and the other commercial bank lenders in the financing of the Unit 2 expansion and the refinancing of the existing Unit 1 of the Wayang Windu geothermal power project in Indonesia. This was the first geothermal expansion project to be developed under Indonesia’s IPP scheme*
- Wayang Windu Geothermal Power Project, Indonesia – Pertamina in the acquisition and financing of ownership interests in the 220-400 MW Wayang Windu geothermal power project in Indonesia*
- Sorik Marapi Geothermal Power Project, Indonesia – The sponsors and developers in the development and project financing of the Sorik Marapi geothermal power project in North Sumatra, Indonesia*
- Baturraden Geothermal Power Project, Indonesia – STEAG in the exploration, development and construction of the Baturraden Geothermal Power Plant in Indonesia*
- Thuen Hinboun Hydroelectric Power Project, Laos – the project company in the development and financing of the Thuen Hinboun hydroelectric power project in Laos*
- Houay Ho Hydropower Power Project, Laos – the project company in the development and financing of the 150MW hydroelectric power project in Laos*
- CBK Hydroelectric Power Project, Philippines – Edison Mission Energy in the development and financing of the 730MW CBK hydroelectric power plant in the Philippines*
- Jawa 1 Gas-fired Power Project, Indonesia – the winning consortium led by Marubeni Corporation and PT Pertamina (Persero) in its bid for the Jawa 1 gas-fired power project*
- Paiton Power Project, Indonesia – a group of commercial lenders led by JP Morgan Chase and Mizuho Corporate Bank Limited, in the US$2 billion restructuring of the Paiton Power Project, a 1,230 MW coal-fired power generating facility located in Java, Indonesia. This was the first power project to be developed and reach financial close under Indonesia’s IPP program*
- Paiton III Power Project, Indonesia – JBIC and the lenders in the US$1.4 billion project financing of the 815-MW coal-fired Paiton 3 power plant, located within the existing Paiton power generating complex in East Java, Indonesia. At the time of completion, the project was to close with the benefit of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) umbrella note. This project was awarded “Project Finance Deal of the Year” in International Financial Law Review’s (IFLR) Asia Awards 2010*
- Tanjung Jati B Coal-Fired Power Project, Indonesia – the lenders, led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and the JBIC in the US$1.2 billion financing of the 2 x 660 MW Tanjung Jati B coal-fired facility in Central Java, Indonesia. This was the first project to close following Indonesia’s emergence from the Asian financial crisis*
- Tanjung Jati B 5&6 Power Project, Indonesia – JBIC and the commercial lenders in the US$3.35 billion project financing of the 2 x 1000-MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired Tanjung Jati B 5&6 Power Project in Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia*
- Cirebon Coal-Fired Power Project, Indonesia – Korea Midland Power Co. Ltd. in the development and US$595 project financing of the Cirebon coal-fired power project in Indonesia. This was one of the first power projects to close with the benefit of Indonesia government support via the JBIC umbrella note*
- Cirebon II Expansion Power Project, Indonesia – PT Cirebon Energi Prasarana, Marubeni Corporation, Korea Midland Power Co. Ltd., PT Indika Energy Tbk, Samtan Co. Ltd., JERA Co. Inc., and PT Imeco Inter Sarana in the US$1.74 billion project financing of the 1000-MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired Cirebon Unit 2 Power Plant Expansion Project in West Java, Indonesia. This project was one of the largest-ever power plant expansions in Asia*
- Sumsel-6 Mine-Mouth Power Project, Indonesia – Korea Midland Power Company, Ssangyong Engineering and Construction, Daelim Industrial Company, and the Rajawali Group in its bid to develop the Sumsel-6 mine-mouth power project in Sumatra, Indonesia*
- Pendopo Mine-Mouth Power Project, Indonesia – J-Power, DH Power, and the project company in the development and financing of the Pendopo mine-mouth coal-fired power project. This is the first mine-mouth power project being developed in Indonesia*
- Jawa 3 Gas-fired Power Project, Indonesia – JBIC and the lenders in the development and financing of the 800-MW Jawa 3 gas-fired power project in Indonesia*
- Sumbagut 1, 3 & 4 LNG-fired Power Project, Indonesia – the sponsors in the development and financing of the 800-MW Sumbagut 1, 3 & 4 LNG- fired power project in Indonesia*
- Sumut 2 Coal-fired Power Project, Indonesia – the sponsors in the development and financing of the 2 x 300-MW Sumut 2 Coal-fired power project in Indonesia*
- Bojonegara Gas-Fired Power Project, Indonesia – Korea Electric Power Corporation in the project development and financing of the 780-MW gas-fired Bojonegara power plant in Indonesia and the purchase of Indonesian LNG by Korea pursuant to the counter-trade arrangements*
- Central Java Coal-fired Power Project Bid, Indonesia – Marubeni Corporation and its consortium partners on the power purchase agreement and the drafting and negotiation of the proposed EPC contract with Hyundai Engineering, Hitachi and Toshiba in the bid for the 2000-MW coal-fired Central Java independent power project in Indonesia*
- North Sumatra Transmission Project, Indonesia – China State Grid on Indonesia’s first power transmission project through a joint venture with a state-owned utility*
- Senoko Power Acquisition and Financing, Singapore – Lion Power Holdings Pte Ltd, a consortium comprising Marubeni Corporation, GDF SUEZ S.A, The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc., and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in the successful bid for the acquisition, through a S$2.9 billion bridge credit facility, of Senoko Power Limited which also included the refinancing of certain indebtedness of the company and a JPY 67 billion (approximately S$895 million) repowering credit facility*
- Senoko Power Project Refinancing, Singapore – Marubeni Corporation-led Lion Power Holdings Pte Limited consortium in the S$2.65 billion senior and mezzanine debt financing to refinance the bridge loan facility used by shareholders to acquire Senoko Power from Temasek Holdings (Private) Ltd*
- K-Power Project, South Korea – the lenders, led by The Korea Development Bank, in the development of the 1,074 MW gas-fired K-Power combined cycle plant in Kwangyang, Korea’s first merchant power project*
- Prai Power Project, Malaysia – Daelim & Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd (KOMOPO) consortium in its bid to develop the gas-fired combined cycle gas turbine Prai power project
- NRG Energy Power Project Development and Acquisition Financing, US – a consortium of financial institutions led by Credit Suisse First Boston in the US$2 billion revolving credit facility to finance NRG Energy’s development and acquisition of a portfolio of power projects in the US*
- Plains End Project, US – Credit Lyonnais in the PG&E National Energy Group’s power generation facility, the Plains End project in Colorado, USA*
- Adapazari Izmir and Gebze Gas-Fired Power Projects, Turkey – ABN AMRO, Societe Generale, WestLB, BNP Paribas and Finansbank, as lead arrangers, for Intergen’s $2 billion Adapazari Izmir and Gebze gas fired power projects, totaling 3,860 MW in Turkey. These were supported by the export credit agencies of the United States, Germany, and Belgium, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Project sponsors were ENKA and InterGen*
Upstream Oil & Gas
- Tangguh LNG Project, Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia, acting through its upstream implementation agency BP Migas (now known as SKKMIGAS), in connection with the development and project financing of a US$5.2 billion greenfield natural gas liquefaction project in Papua. The project is being developed as a national project and its sponsors include BP plc, China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) and Mitsubishi Corporation, INPEX, the Japan National Oil Corporation. The US$2.9 billion financing includes loans from export credit agencies, multilateral agencies, and commercial banks. This was the first LNG project to be developed and financed in Indonesia since the regulatory changes brought on by the new oil and gas law passed in 2001. This project was named “Asia Pacific LNG Deal of the Year” by Project Finance Magazine and “Deal of the Year” by Asian Counsel in 2006*
- Tangguh Trains 3 LNG Project, Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia, acting through its upstream implementation agency SKKMIGAS, in the project financing of the US$3.75 billion Tangguh Train 3 LNG Project with BP Corporation North America, Inc., CNOOC Limited, INPEX Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui & Co. Ltd., JX Holdings, Inc., Japan Oil, Gas & Metals National Corporation, LNG Japan Corporation, Repsol Oil & Gas Canada. Inc., Sojitz Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation in West Papua, Indonesia, including in connection with charter party arrangements, gas sales and assisting with formulating the Republic of Indonesia’s policy for gas supply. The Project includes the development and expansion of a third LNG process train to the existing Tangguh LNG facility. This project was commended by the Financial Times in their Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers report 2017 and recognized as the “Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Deal of the Year” 2016 by IJ Global*
- Tangguh LNG Vessels Financing, Indonesia – the lenders on the financing for LNG vessels pursuant to gas sales to PLN for supply to gas-to-power projects, including in connection with cabotage requirements*
- Donggi-Senoro LNG Project, Indonesia –Pertamina in the development and project financing of the Donggi- Senoro LNG project, the first LNG p in Indonesia to be developed on a downstream basis. This is the first LNG project in Indonesia to be developed on a downstream basis with bespoke arrangements to address the non-integrated projected structure with a liquefaction facility that is separate from an upstream concession. The representation includes advising on joint venture arrangements as well as developing the project structure and bankable project contracts to support limited recourse financing. This project won “Energy Deal of the Year” in The Asian Lawyer’s Emerging Markets Awards 2015*
- Bontang LNG Project, Indonesia – Republic of Indonesia, Pertamina, and its production sharing contractors (including entities of TotalFinaElf, Unocal Corporation, ARCO, Union Texas Petroleum, Virginia International Company, Lasmo Plc, and the Japan National Oil Corporation) on the development and financing of the Bontang LNG facility as well as the expansion of the plant and associated financings, along with related LPG projects, including charter party, gas sales, and long term gas supply contracts to the US, Mexico, China, Japan, and Korea. One of the largest LNG plants in the world, once completed this became the main gas supply center from Indonesia*
- Bontang LNG Project Reorganization, Indonesia – Pertamina in connection with the reorganization of the Bontang LNG assets*
- Arun LNG Project, Indonesia – Pertamina in connection with the Arun LNG facilities*
- Jambaran-Tiung Biru (JTB) Project, Indonesia – the sponsor, PT Pertamina EP Cepu, in the project development and US$1.8 billion limited recourse financing for the Jambaran-Tiung Biru Project involving the construction and development of gas processing facility and pipelines, with an expected allocation of 192-MMSCFC to the gas offtake located in Bojonegoro Regency, East Java, Indonesia. It is amongst the largest upstream oil and gas projects to reach financial close in Indonesia in the last decade and the first limited recourse project financing in the region to include Islamic finance tranches alongside conventional interest-bearing tranches; it is also the first oil and gas project financing to be supported exclusively by domestic sales. This deal was named “Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Deal of the Year” 2020 by Project Finance International, “Deal of the Year” by Asian-MENA Counsel, and “Project Finance Deal of the Year” 2020 by IFLR*
- Pagardewa Gas Development Project, Indonesia – Pertamina in the development and limited recourse project financing for gas field facilities to exploit and process reserves in south Sumatra, Indonesia. The Pagardewa deal is the first project development and financing to be closed by PT Pertamina (Persero) since the regulatory changes brought on by Indonesia’s new oil and gas laws in 2001 and the privatization of PT Pertamina (Persero)*
- Cepu Crude Oil Project, Indonesia – Pertamina in the development and project financing of the Cepu crude oil fields being developed by PT Pertamina (Persero) and ExxonMobil in East and Central Java, Indonesia. This is the largest crude oil development in Indonesia and will increase Indonesia’s crude oil output by 20%*
- Pondok Tengah Crude Oil Project, Indonesia – Pertamina in the development and project financing of PT Pertamina (Persero)’s oil and gas fields in Northern Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia*
- Gundih Central Processing Project, Indonesia – Pertamina on the development of a gas processing plant in Central Java, Indonesia. Advising on the EPC contract*
- Al-Nasiriya Project, Iraq – Pertamina in the bid for the Al- Nasiriya integrated crude oil field development and petrochemical project in Iraq*
- West Qurna 1, Iraq – Pertamina in its acquisition of a 10% stake in West Qurna 1, an oil field located in Iraq*
- West Qurna II, Iraq – Pertamina in its investment in Lukoil’s interest in the West Qurna II Block in Iraq*
- Angola Acquisition, Africa – Pertamina in its acquisition from Cobalt International Energy of participating interests in three upstream oil and gas blocks offshore Angola*
- Murphy Oil Acquisition, Malaysia – Pertamina in the US$1.7475 billion term loan facilities in connection with Pertamina’s acquisition of Murphy Oil Corporation’s oil and gas assets in Malaysia*
- Pertamina Inaugural Bonds – Pertamina in its inaugural US$1 billion global bond offering (and subsequent US$500 million follow-on global bond offering) the largest US dollar bond issued by an Indonesian borrower at the time of completion, and subsequently all of Pertamina’s bond issuances undertaken since the inaugural issue in 2011 with a combined value of more than US$10 billion *
- Pertamina Inaugural Global Medium Term Note Program – Pertamina in its inaugural US$5 billion Global Medium Term Note Program and subsequently all of the take-downs and tender offers thereunder*
- Pertamina Corporate Loans – Pertamina in its corporate loans with a combined value of more than US$4 billion
Refining, Petrochemicals and Other Processing Industries
- Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) Project – Pertamina in connection with its US$25 billion refinery development master plan for the Cilicap, Balongan, Plaju, Dumai, and Balikpapan refineries in Indonesia, including the development and financing for the Cilacap Refinery with Saudi Aramco and with respect to negotiating the crude oil supply arrangements to ensure long term supply for bankability and Pertamina’s ability to source cargos on the spot market, and the financing and development of the Balikpapan Refinery, including crude feedstock and offtake arrangements*
- RDMP Balikpapan Project – Pertamina in the development and financing (equity and debt) of the upgrade and expansion of the Balikpapan refinery in Indonesia*
- Blue Sky Project – the trustee borrower, JP Morgan Chase, in connection with the project financing to PT Pertamina (Persero) for the upgrading of its Balongan and Cilacap refineries, in West and Central Java, Indonesia. This deal was named “Asia- Pacific Oil and Gas Deal of the Year” by Project Finance Magazine in 2003*
- Balongan Petrochemical Expansion Project – Pertamina as sponsor for the development and project financing by a consortium of banks including BNP Paribas, Sumitomo Trust, and HSBC, of the expansion of the Balongan Project in Indramayu, West Java, Indonesia. The scope of the project included the development of a low-pressure recovery unit, an ethylene recovery system, an LPG mixed preparation plant, an olefin conversion unit, and other complementary facilities*
- Cilacap Debottlenecking Project –Pertamina in the US$630 million project development and financing of the upgrading and expansion of the Cilacap refinery in Indonesia, comprising a commercial bank tranche arranged by Citibank N.A. and a USEXIM tranche on the basis of a long-term sale and purchase agreement for naptha, lube oil, and LSWR to an affiliate of Shell in Singapore*
- Tuban Petrochemical Project – Pertamina and PETRAL in connection with the development and financing of the Tuban petrochemical project in Indonesia and subsequently on the working capital facilities and supply arrangements in connection with its restructuring *
- Greenfield Refinery PPP Project – Pertamina in the development of Indonesia’s first greenfield refinery to be developed under Indonesia’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) laws including advising on investor issues, project structure, and bankability of project contracts to support limited recourse financing*
- Cilacap Refinery Upgrading Project – Pertamina in connection with the development of the Cilacap refinery upgrade in Indonesia *
- Pertamina Refinery Project – Pertamina in the financing with HSBC for bullion (physical platinum) required for a Pertamina refinery in Indonesia*
- Balongan Petrochemical Project – lenders in connection with the project financing of PT Polytama Propertindo’s polypropylene plant in West Java, Indonesia*
- Chandra Asri Petrochemical Project – Barito Pacific in the development and financing of the petrochemical and aromatics project in Indonesia*
- Bengalon Coal to Methanol Project – Air Products in the development and financing of the US$2 billion project coal to methanol project in Indonesia with Bumi Resources and the Salim Group in which they will build, own, and operate the air separation, gasification, syngas clean-up, utilities and methanol production assets to produce methanol. The project is part of Air Product’s US$15 billion investment inked with the Government of Indonesia to cut LNG imports and develop a green economy by developing Indonesia’s pioneer coal to gasification sector using a hydrogen technology – technology and patents acquired from Shell – to cleanly convert coal, petroleum coke, and biomass into high-value products with low emissions
- Tanjung Enim Coal to Dimethyl Ether (DME) Project – Air Products in the development of the project together with Pertamina, Indonesia’s national oil company, and Bukit Assam, Indonesia’s national coal company. The project will also feature Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) utilizing a Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) scheme
- Coal to Ethanol Complex – Pertamina in the development and financing of a coal to ethanol complex in Indonesia. The complex will include a power project, a coal to syngas and methanol project, a syngas to ethanol project and an infrastructure (including rail transportation and ancillary infrastructure) and a water desalination project. Our role includes advising on joint venture issues with Celanese Corporation as well as developing the project structure and bankable project contracts to support limited recourse financing*
Infrastructure Projects
- DKI Water Supply Project – the Indonesian government in the DICI water supply project in Western Jakarta*
- Tanjung Enim Lestari Project – Barito Pacific and Marubeni Corporation and Marubeni Corporation on the joint venture arrangements and subsequent development and limited recourse financing of the project, including rail, shipping, and port facilities, in Sumatra, Indonesia*
- Protelindo Telecoms – the lenders in the financing for PT Profesional Telekomunkasi Indonesia (Protelindo), for a network rollout to support expanded coverage for mobile telecoms service providers in Indonesia*
- Protelindo Telecoms Project Refinancing – the lenders in the US$475 million dual-currency senior secured term loan facility (US$ and IDR) for PT Profesional Telekomunikasi*
- Shipbuilding Facilities and Port – PT PAL, Indonesia’s state-owned shipping company on shipbuilding and port facilities in Surabaya, Indonesia*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott
Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in Singapore, Project Finance and Development, 2023 – 2024
- International Financial Law Review, Highly Regarded in Singapore: Project Finance, Project Development, Islamic Finance, and Banking, 2022
- Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader in Project Finance, 2022
- Chambers Global, Leading Individual in Singapore and Indonesia, Projects & Infrastructure: International, 2022
- Chambers Asia-Pacific, Indonesia: Projects & Energy – Foreign Expertise based abroad in Singapore – Band 1 and Singapore: Projects & Infrastructure – Band 3, 2023
- Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, Leading Individual in Singapore, Projects: Foreign Firms and Energy: Foreign Firms, 2021
- Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader in Power/Electricity and in Project Finance; and National Leader, Southeast Asia in Energy and in Project Finance, 2021
- Euromoney Asia Women in Business Law Awards, Winner of Best in Energy and Natural Resources, 2012 and 2017
- The American Lawyer Emerging Markets Awards, Winner of “Project Finance Lawyer of the Year”, 2015
Community
- United Women Singapore, Board Member
- Board Agender, 100 Champions of Change
- Equal-Ark, Board Member
- Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Ladies League
- National Gallery Singapore, Benefit Gala Fund Raising Committee
Credentials
Education
Queen Mary College, University of London, LLB (Hons), 1992
Admissions
England & Wales (Solicitor)
Languages
English
Bahasa (Indonesian)