OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has updated its global criteria report for rating thermal power projects. Fitch's thermal criteria applies to a broad range of projects including newly constructed or existing, gas-fired or coal-fired, individual or portfolio, fully contracted or merchant projects.

The updated criteria report refines the qualitative guidance for the key rating drivers used to evaluate and compare thermal power projects. Fitch evaluates these risk factors in its rating analysis, assessing the risk factors as 'stronger,' 'midrange,' or 'weaker' for each transaction.

The latest criteria replace the existing criteria published on July 30, 2014 without modifying Fitch's analytical approach. No changes to the ratings of existing transactions are anticipated as a result of the application of the updated rating criteria.