REC avails SACE-Covered Green Loan for 60.5 Billion Japanese Yen
By TIOL News Service
NEW DELHI, APR 26, 2024: IN a significant step towards sustainable development in India, REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise and leading NBFC under the Ministry of Power, has successfully availed a Green Loan of Japanese Yen (JPY) 60.536 billion to finance eligible green projects in India. The green loan facility benefits from an 80% guarantee by Italian Export Credit Agency, SACE (Italy) under their innovative Push Strategy programme. The arrangement between SACE and REC is a breakthrough and a first-of-its-kind collaboration between an Indian government entity and SACE.
The green loan facility sets a benchmark in the Indian public sector landscape, for similar green financing transactions, highlighting a growing commitment to sustainable financing. The facility also marks SACE's first JPY-denominated loan transaction and first green loan transaction in India.
The Green Loan has loan participation from banks across Asia, USA and Europe, namely Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Bank of America, Citibank, KfW IPEX-Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation as Mandated Lead Arrangers. Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank would be acting as the Export Credit Agency Coordinator, Green Loan Coordinator, Documentation Bank and Facility Agent.
The loan facility is a strategic investment for REC Limited, which reinforces its commitment to foster sustainable growth, in alignment with the company's Green Finance Framework. The green loan demonstrates the dedication of REC and its partners in supporting projects which meet rigorous environmental standards, promote renewable energy and contribute to reducing carbon emissions throughout India. Additionally, it also reflects the growing momentum towards green financing and the collective efforts of stakeholders to address environmental challenges.
Commenting on the collaboration, Chairperson & Managing Director, REC, Vivek Kumar Dewangan said: "The successful transaction in this truly global facility is anticipated to pave way for more such collaborations, further enhancing Indo-Italian business relationships in green energy financing and sustainable projects. It will also help boost the global community's support for sustainable development projects in India."
Head of SACE - India & South Asia Gautam Bhansali commented: "SACE is proud to partner with REC for this 'Green Push Strategy' transaction, which is an innovative and first-in-its-kind structure being executed in India. Through this facility, SACE is committed to support projects in renewable energy, green mobility and energy efficiency, enabling sustainable long-term growth in India."
Senior Country Officer for India, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Mr. Franck Passillier said: "The transaction exemplifies Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank's unwavering dedication to fostering sustainable development, in line with our Bank's leading position in global sustainable finance for more than a decade. Our strategic collaboration with REC underscores our steadfast commitment to advancing environmentally responsible initiatives and promoting the growth of sustainable financing within India's promising market."
About REC Limited
REC is a 'Maharatna' Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, and is registered with RBI as Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), and Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC). REC finances the entire Power-Infrastructure sector comprising Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Renewable Energy and new technologies like Electric Vehicles, Battery Storage, Pumped Storage Projects, Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia projects. Recently, REC has also diversified into the Non-Power Infrastructure sector comprising Roads & Expressways, Metro Rail, Airports, IT Communication, Social and Commercial Infrastructure (Educational Institution, Hospitals), Ports and Electro-Mechanical (E&M) works in respect of various other sectors like Steel and Refinery.
REC Ltd. provides loans of various maturities to State, Central and Private Companies for creation of infrastructure assets in the country. REC Ltd. continues to play a key strategic role in the flagship schemes of the Government for the power sector and has been a nodal agency for Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGAYA), Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), National Electricity Fund (NEF) Scheme which resulted in strengthening of last-mile distribution system, 100% village electrification and household electrification in the country. REC has also been made the nodal agency for certain States and Union Territories for the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The loan book of REC stands at Rs 4.97 Lakh Crores and Net Worth at Rs. 64,787 crores as on 31st December, 2023.
