Ann: Fluence Signs Volume Deal in China & Ivory Coast Update, page-41

I got some clarification from Fluence on what caused the delay to the Ivory Coast financial close.

Apparently the delay was largely at the start of the process, mostly due to the Israel Apr19 elections causing delays with their ministry of finance.

Even though the negotiations were somewhat delayed from the outset, I guess Flulence thought they could still get it done by end of Sep19, but appears they realised it just wasn't possible last minute (probably due to the snap election in Israel in Sep19). I don't think the Sep19 election impacted as much, as it was a snap election.. so the build up/lobbying would have been a lot shorter.

But since negotiations finally kicked off in earnest after the Apr19 elections, they have been ongoing ever since and are now 'well advanced' with lawyers between all parties to the agreement working to get it done.

There are a number of public holidays in early Oct19 as well in Israel, so that would have an impact as well ...

Good news is that the delays were not project related.. and the political issues only impacted the start of negotiations and are now behind them, with normal negotiations ongoing and at an advanced stage... feels like it isn't too far off now.