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International Finance Corporation (IFC), the arm of the World Bank Group that lends to the private sector, today, announced that it has provided a loan of $150 million to Absa Bank, one of Africa’s largest banks, based in South Africa.

IFC said the loan is Africa’s first certified green loan, which complies with the Green Loan Principles, and will increase funding for biomass and other renewable energy projects in South Africa, as well as support the country’s power sector and economic recovery from COVID-19.
 
In a statement sent to Financial Nigeria by IFC, the loan will support Absa’s strategy to expand its climate finance business and help South Africa meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets.

The Green Loan Principles is a joint initiative of the Loan Market Association, Asia Pacific Loan Market Association, and Loan Syndications & Trading Association. In line with the principles, IFC said on-lending of the $150 million loan by Absa for green projects will be disclosed, improving transparency, and encouraging other banks to follow the principles. In addition to the loan, IFC will provide technical advice and knowledge sharing to help the bank develop a green, social, and sustainable bonds and loans framework.
 
“Africa’s green transition requires considerable mobilization of funds,” said Jason Quinn, Absa Interim Group Chief Executive. “The agreement with IFC bolsters our funding available for green projects and strengthens Absa’s position as a leader in financing renewable projects in South Africa.”

Quinn added that Absa is the leader in arranging financing for South Africa’s Renewable Independent Power Producer Program, having structured and arranged financing for approximately 46 per cent of projects concluded under the program to date.
 
“Financial institutions and the private sector have an important role to play helping South Africa to rebuild greener and more sustainably from the impact of COVID-19,” said Adamou Labara, IFC's Country Manager for South Africa. “By increasing funding for renewable energy and climate smart projects we can help South Africa strengthen its climate change resilience and increase climate change adaptation.”
 
South Africa has set the goals of reducing its greenhouse-gas emissions by 42 per cent by 2025 and its reliance on coal by 2050. Today, 90 per cent of the country’s electricity is generated by coal-fired plants.
 
IFC estimates that there is a $588 billion investment opportunity in climate mitigation across selected sectors in South Africa between now and 2030. The project with Absa is in line with a climate initiative IFC launched in January 2020 to help financial institutions in South Africa, Egypt, Mexico, and the Philippines to mobilize private sector financing for climate mitigation and adaptation projects and help align financial-sector strategies with Paris Climate Agreement targets.
 
In South Africa, financial institutions are critical sources of climate finance, with commercial banks currently providing 67 per cent of the financing for renewable energy projects.
 
This is IFC's fourth investment dedicated to green finance in South Africa's financial sector.