DUBAI, Jan 20, Reuters -- Oman is in talks with regional banks to refinance a $2.2 billion loan it took out early last year, attempting to increase its size to between $3 billion and $4 billion, two sources familiar with the matter said.
Two other sources said that the loan taken out in February last year has a 15 month tenor with a one-year extension option at the borrower's discretion.
Oman originally sought up to $1 billion with last year's loan, but now it has doubled its size due to strong appetite from banks.
Oman is trying to refinance the loan with better terms despite the extension option.
One source with knowledge of the matter said that pricing talk for refinancing is around 350 basis points over LIBOR. The original loan's all-in pricing, including fees, was between 375 and 390 basis points over LIBOR.
Oman's finance ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Oman believes that the budget deficit this year will reach 5% of gross domestic product GDP this year, which is well within the limits of a medium-term fiscal plan it launched in 2020 to fix its heavily-indebted finances.
Other sources have said that the country may still need international debt markets to fill its funding needs this year.
The small Gulf crude producer expects public debt to reach 75% of GDP in 2022, which would be less than previous estimates of an 86% debt-to- GDP ratio.
Fitch revised Oman's outlook last month to stable from negative as higher oil prices and fiscal reforms improve its balance sheet.