Mark Barges
Mark Barges

Mark Barges

Partner

Paris

+33 1 53 53 54 77 | +33 6 23 39 37 80
Mark.Barges@ashurstperkins.com

Introduction

Mark is a dual-qualified energy and infrastructure finance practitioner advising clients on conventional and renewable projects, from structuring through to financial close.

Mark Barges has extensive experience in advising on conventional and renewable energy and infrastructure projects in France, Europe and Africa. He has worked on a number of energy transition transactions in this sector including the development and financing of onshore and offshore wind farms, solar, BESS biomass, CCS and hydrogen projects as well as conventional IPPs and gas projects.

Mark has also advises on infrastructure projects such as airports, ports, rail projects, roads and industrial zones projects in Europe, Africa and Latin America.

He advises lenders, commercial banks, multilateral financial institutions and export credit agencies, as well as developers and sponsors at all stages of the structuring, development and financing of major projects.

Mark is qualified in Paris and England & Wales and is a recognized practitioner in the current Europe and Global editions of Chambers & Partners.

  • Lenders (EIB, EKF as ECA, CACIB, Mizuho and KfW) | ongoing | on the €450m Leucate non-recourse financing of one of the first pilot 30MW floating offshore wind projects.
  • Lenders (Bpifrance, La Banque Postale and La Banque Postale Asset Management) | for the €270m refinancing of a portfolio of approximately 600 solar rooftop and energy efficiency projects (260 MWp) spread over 8 European countries (36 project companies in France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Romania, Poland and Hungary) developed by Helexia (a subsidiary of Voltalia).
  • Facility for Energy Inclusion funds, managed by Cygnum Capital | ongoing | On a landmark financing of up to USD 120 million to support the CREI Group's sustainable energy and connectivity operations across Mali, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
  • Waga Energy SA | ongoing | On the financing and refinancing of a mix of 20 greenfield and brownfield landfill gas to renewable natural gas projects in France, Spain and Italy.
  • A leading French energy and services group | 2024 – ongoing | On the development, implementation, and operation of CO₂ offtake and management services across Europe. This forward-thinking approach supports the creation of a European infrastructure and market for physical CO₂, aligning with the European Union’s ambitions for a low-carbon economy. The initiative encompasses the entire CO₂ management chain, including the capture, aggregation, transport, storage, and utilization of CO₂ emissions from industrial sources.
  • Stock 4 (owned by COMAX - MET Group) | ongoing | On the negotiation of the EPC contract and O&M contract for a 100 MW BESS project in France.
  • Lenders (CACIB, Natixis and SG) | 2024 | on the €1.8bn refinancing of Idex one of the largest district heating operators in France.
  • Nareva Holding and ACWA Power | ongoing | in their consortium for the implementation of the Noor Midelt II and III Projects in Morocco. These landmark initiatives, launched by Masen, involve the design, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of two cutting-edge 400MW and 200MW photovoltaic power plants. Each project also features an advanced battery energy storage system, capable of delivering 601 MWh , significantly enhancing grid stability and renewable integration.
  • Banque Populaire (Maroc) and Attijariwafa Bank | 2023 – ongoing | in connection with the USD 155,000,000 and USD 2300,000,000 financings provided to Akka Gold Mining and Métallurgie de l'Anti-Atlas owned by Managem for the development and operation of the Tizert copper and silver mine and related processing facilities in Taroudant, Morocco. Our work includes the audit of all complex project documents and the analysis of the overall project schedule (2023 – ongoing).
  • GuarantCo | ongoing | on a guarantee framework arrangements with Africa GreenCo Group (AGG) to guarantee AGG's payment obligations under its power purchase agreements in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The guarantee structure may also benefit from a DFC non-recourse facility (2024).

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