- L.LB., University of Indonesia(2015)
Zessica joined Assegaf Hamzah & Partners (AHP) in 2018, bringing with her a strong foundation in infrastructure and public-private partnership (PPP) transactions. Prior to joining AHP, she spent three years at one of Indonesia’s leading legal service providers specializing in PPPs and infrastructure projects, where she gained hands-on experience in project preparation and structuring, as well as close engagement with government stakeholders and regulatory agencies.
Her early career cultivated a deep understanding of Indonesia’s infrastructure development ecosystem, positioning her to effectively represent both public and private sector clients in complex, large-scale transactions.
Since becoming a member of AHP, Zessica has broadened her practice into the banking and project finance space, playing a pivotal role in some of the most prominent infrastructure deals in the country. She is routinely involved in advising on project structuring, due diligence, risk allocation, and the drafting and negotiation of finance and project documentation, including loan agreements, security packages, and concession-related contracts.
Zessica was a key member of the AHP team advising on the landmark USD 222 million syndicated project financing for the 275 MW Riau Combined Cycle Power Plant, led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). This high-profile transaction was recognized as “Project Finance Deal of the Year” at the ALB Indonesia Law Awards 2020.
She also acted for a syndicate of lenders in the refinancing of the Sidrap Wind Farm, Indonesia’s first utility-scale wind power project. Her involvement contributed to the transaction receiving the “Renewable Energy Deal of the Year” from The Asset Triple A Infrastructure Awards 2021, and it was also shortlisted as “Asia-Pacific Project Finance Deal of the Year” at the IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2021.
Zessica’s strength lies in her ability to navigate both the legal and commercial dimensions of infrastructure and energy finance. Her multifaceted experience enables her to advise a broad range of stakeholders—governments, sponsors, commercial lenders, and multilateral development banks—on complex project and structured finance arrangements.
Her capabilities include:
- Advising on PPP frameworks and regulatory compliance
- Structuring and negotiating project finance transactions
- Drafting and reviewing key project and finance documents (e.g., EPC contracts, PPA, loan and security agreements)
- Coordinating cross-sectoral legal due diligence and risk analysis
- Representing lenders and sponsors in refinancing, restructuring, and acquisition financing
With a combination of regulatory insight, transactional expertise, and a collaborative approach, Zessica continues to be an integral asset in the development and financing of strategic infrastructure projects across Indonesia.
- Acting as the lenders’ legal counsel for a staple debt package of the several renewable projects under Hijaunesia program in reviewing the draft project documents and the draft stapled debt facility agreement and advising on the compliance of financing structure with the Indonesian regulatory framework including the world bank negative pledge restriction. (2023 – present)
- Advising PT China Harbour Indonesia and IJM Corporation Berhad as the initiating entity on the initiation, construction, and operation & maintenance of the Public Servant Apartment in the New Capital City (IKN) under a Private Public Partnership (PPP) scheme. (2023 – present)
- Representing the Asian Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, The Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund administrated by ADB, MUFG Bank, Ltd., and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in a USD222 million project financing for the development of a 275 MW combined-cycle gas turbine power plant in Riau province, Sumatra, by PT Medco Ratch Power Riau, a 51% and 49% consortium of PT Medco Power Indonesia and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding of Thailand, respectively. The project also included a 42-km pipeline to connect the plant to its gas delivery point. This deal won Project Finance Deal of the Year at ALB Indonesia Law Awards 2020. (2018 – present)
- Advised PT PLN Nusantara Renewables in the development of 50MW Solar Power Plant project for the Capital City of the Nusantara (IKN) through cooperation with the strategic partner appointed by PT PLN Nusantara Power. (2023 – 2024)
- Advised PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Persero) (INALUM) on the furnace modernisation of its aluminium smelter in Kuala Tanjung, North Sumatra, including upgrading pot technology and supporting facilities to enhance energy efficiency and production capacity. The project involves upgrading one potline within an operational site, requiring careful contract structuring to avoid disruptions to ongoing production. (2021)
- Assisted Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, PT Bank BTPN Tbk, and PT Indonesia Infrastructure Finance to act as the Refinancing Lenders who took over and extended the loan term of Sidrap Wind Farm project from initial lender, International counsel to Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). The initial loan was used to fund the development and construction of 75 MW Sidrap Wind Farm in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Sidrap Wind Farm is the first wind power project in Indonesia and the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, developed by PT UPC Sidrap Bayu Energi. The project has been in commercial operation since 1 March 2018 and this refinancing was concluded right before the first loan reimbursement in January 2020. (2020)
- Advised PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk and PT Chandra Asri Alkali (“CAP”) as the project owner of the development and construction of a USD1 billion Chlor Alkali and Ethylene Dichloride plant in Cilegon, West Java, structured as a public-private partnership. This initiative aims to expand CAP’s second petrochemical complex product range. The project includes a boiler, substation, and tank farm to be novated respectively to PT Krakatau Daya Listrik and PT Chandra Cilegon Port. (2018 – 2019)
