- Overview
- Experience
Introduction
Stephen is a project finance counsel advising lenders and sponsors on major energy and infrastructure transactions across Australasia, Asia, Europe and Africa.
Stephen Blair is a counsel in our projects, energy, environment & resources practice.
Stephen has been involved in numerous energy and infrastructure projects and has experience advising both sponsors and lenders, including export credit agencies, on domestic and international project finance transactions. He has advised on major infrastructure and energy projects across Australasia, Asia, Europe and Africa.
- Akaysha Energy | Akaysha Energy Holdco Financing | 2025 | Advising on securing a market-first A$300 million borrowing base, corporate debt facility from a syndicate of leading global and domestic banks, including BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, ING, SMBC and Westpac. The multi-currency facility, available in Australian dollars, euros, and US dollars, comprises a revolving loan and letter of credit facility and was strategically designed to support and accelerate Akaysha Energy’s continued growth and leadership in the energy storage sector.
- Newcastle Airport | Astra Aerolab | 2025 | Advising on the financing, construction and leasing arrangements for Australia's first guided weapons production and servicing facility to be established by Kongsberg Defence as part of the Astra Aerolab precinct at Newcastle Airport.
- Revera Energy | Bungama BESS Stage 1 Project | 2025 | Advising on the development and project financing for the 150 MW / 300 MWh Stage 1 of the Bungama Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The Project is the first utility-scale BESS project in Australia to be financed by commercial lenders on a fully merchant basis.
- Ark Energy | MacIntyre Wind Farm | 2025 | Advising in relation to the development and financing of Ark Energy’s joint venture interest in the 923MW MacIntyre Wind Farm in Queensland. The joint venture is between Ark Energy and Acciona Energia and will be the largest wind farm in Australia. The financing involved Korean ECA support from K-Sure .
- Akaysha Energy | Ulinda Park and Brendale BESS | 2024 | Advising on the portfolio financing of its 155 MW/298 MWh Ulinda Park BESS and its 205 MW/410 MWh Brendale BESS.
- Aquila Capital | Pukenui, Edgecumbe, Foxton and Waiotahe Solar Farms | 2024 | Advising on the financing of the construction of its portfolio of four solar farm projects across New Zealand.
- Lending syndicate | Neoen portfolio financing | 2024 | Advising in relation to Neoen's AU$1.1 billion portfolio financing. The portfolio included seven operating assets, including solar and wind assets, as well as projects in the development stage, including the Collie Battery Stage 1, a 4-hour duration battery in WA. The lending syndicate included 11 international and Australian lenders.
- Newcastle Airport | Terminal expansion | 2023 | Advising on the financing of the Newcastle Airport, including to facilitate its terminal expansion to enhance domestic capacity and to develop a new international passenger terminal and to accelerate the activation of the Astra Aerolab project, being Australia's newest defense and aerospace precinct adjoining the Newcastle Airport and RAAF Base Williamtown.
- Vodafone PNG | Network infrastructure financing | 2023 | Advising on the financing of its rollout of telecommunications infrastructure in Papua New Guinea.
- UKEF and lenders | Ministerial City financing | 2021 | Advising in relation to the sovereign financing provided to the State of Benin in respect of the Ministerial City project in Cotonou, Benin, including in respect of UKEF’s €121 million hybrid direct lending facility .