South African Absa Bank, former subsidiary of British Barclays Bank, is about to obtain up to $150 million in loan from the International Finance Corporation to support green projects. ICF says this is Africa's first certified green loan.
"Africa's green transition requires considerable mobilization of funds [...] 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," said Jason Quinn, Absa Interim MD.
Beyond the financing, IFC will provide the beneficiary with technical assistance and share its expertise on green bonds and loans. Absa wants to increase its financing in projects targeting biomass and renewable energy.
The operation is IFC's fourth green finance investment in the South African banking sector. The lender estimates that there is a $588 billion investment opportunity for climate change mitigation in South Africa by 2030. Commercial banks, which already provide 67% of such financing in the country, are best positioned to seize this opportunity.
Chamberline Moko
From Dakar to Nairobi, Kampala to Abidjan, mobile money has become a lifeline for millions of Africa...
Airtel Gabon, Moov sign deal to share telecom infrastructure Agreement aims to cut costs, boo...
• WAEMU posts 0.9% deflation in July, second month in a row• Food, hospitality prices drop; alcohol,...
Malawi votes in high-stakes presidential election Tuesday Economic crisis, inflation dominate vot...
Vision Invest invests $700m in Arise IIP, Africa’s largest private infrastructure deal in 202...
DBSA closed a 100 mln rand ($5.7 mln) financing for EV charging stations. Local firm Zero Carbon Charge will build 60 solar-powered stations by...
Liberia granted TotalEnergies rights to explore four offshore blocks totaling 12,700 km². The French group will run a program including 3D seismic...
Empower New Energy got approval to develop a 4 MW solar plant in Awasi, Kenya. The $2.5 mln deal with Abyssinia Group will supply clean power...
Morocco exported 745,000 tons of tomatoes in 2024/25, generating $1.2 billion. France, the UK, and the Netherlands were the top buyers, with...
Surprisingly, only one African song made it onto Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The track is "Essence," a collaboration...
The Umhlanga Festival, also known as the “Reed Dance,” is one of the most iconic cultural events in the Kingdom of Eswatini in Southern Africa. Every...