• Financing targets renewable energy and climate adaptation investments
• Deal supports Africa’s low-carbon transition and infrastructure funding needs

Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) has secured a 10-year, $100 million senior loan to finance climate projects across Africa, MCB Group, the Mauritian financial services holding company, announced.

The financing was arranged by Proparco as lead arranger, alongside European development finance institutions DEG (Germany) and FMO (Netherlands). The funds will be used primarily to finance renewable energy projects and climate adaptation initiatives. The loan aims to support low-carbon investments and help close Africa’s long-term infrastructure financing gap.

"This facility [...] strengthens our ability to deliver on our sustainability objectives under our Group’s Vision 2030 and our raison d’être Success Beyond Numbers, while reinforcing our position as a key financial partner in Africa’s transition journey," said Thierry Hébraud, chief executive of MCB, Mauritius' oldest and largest bank, founded in 1838.

This is not the first time MCB has partnered with its European counterparts. The bank's cooperation with Proparco dates to 2001, making the current transaction their ninth joint financing. DEG is also a longstanding partner. Proparco and DEG jointly extended a first loan to MCB of 75 million euros (approximately $86 million) in 2011, a second credit facility of $150 million in 2018, a third of $65 million in 2020 and a fourth of $120 million in 2023. This transaction, however, marks FMO's entry as a new partner for the Mauritian bank.

The financing comes as the island faces growing climate risks. According to a Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) published in February 2026 by the World Bank, the country, which accounts for just 0.01% of global emissions, is "highly" exposed to natural disasters, water scarcity and threats to agriculture and infrastructure.

The report recommends investing in renewable energy, developing the blue economy and strengthening infrastructure resilience. These measures could generate up to 32,000 jobs by 2030. Implementing these measures will require total financing of $5.6 billion over 25 years, drawing on both the private and public sectors.

Sandrine Gaingne