Asia Press Agency

Tag: Financing

  • ReNew Energy Global and ADB Signs MoU

    ReNew Energy Global and ADB Signs MoU

    ReNew Energy Global Plc has taken a substantial step towards advancing green energy initiatives by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The MoU secures debt financing exceeding $5.3 billion, dedicated to projects focused on climate change mitigation and the promotion of sustainable energy practices.

     

    This pivotal agreement was formalized at COP28 in Dubai, where Sumant Sinha, the Founder, Chairman & CEO of ReNew, and Suzanne Gaboury, Director General of the Private Sector Operations Department at ADB, put pen to paper on behalf of their respective organizations. The MoU outlines projects with a collective investment value surpassing $5.3 billion, set to unfold between 2023 and 2028.

     

    The official statement from the company emphasized that the MoU covers a diverse range of investments, including those in renewable energy projects, manufacturing, carbon offset initiatives, and green hydrogen. The collaborative goal is to actively contribute to the global push for a sustainable energy transition.

     

    ReNew anticipates that this collaboration will not only fortify its commitment to environmentally conscious practices but will also serve as a catalyst for drawing interest from a broader pool of international investors. The focus on long-term debt financing for significant renewable energy infrastructure projects aligns with the increasing demand for sustainable and responsible investment opportunities.

     

    Sumant Sinha highlighted the critical need for substantial financing to achieve global climate targets. The MoU, he expressed, is a strategic move towards securing the necessary capital to fulfill these ambitions. Moreover, he expressed enthusiasm about collaborating closely with the Asian Development Bank to support India’s ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030.

     

    Beyond the impact on ReNew Energy Global, this partnership is poised to contribute significantly to the Asian Development Bank’s overarching goal of investing $100 billion in green energy projects by 2030. Suzanne Gaboury, ADB’s Director General for Private Sector Operations, emphasized that the collaboration represents a long-term commitment from both organizations to work together over the next five years towards shared goals in combating climate change.

     

    ReNew Energy Global currently boasts a clean-energy capacity portfolio of approximately 13.8 GW. The company has already demonstrated its commitment to the clean energy sector by investing around $8 billion in various initiatives. The MoU with the Asian Development Bank is expected to provide an additional financial boost, allowing ReNew to further expand its impact in the realm of renewable energy projects.

     

    As the global community intensifies its focus on combating climate change, partnerships like the one between ReNew Energy Global and the Asian Development Bank become instrumental in driving sustainable practices. This collaboration not only signifies a commitment to achieving specific environmental goals but also underscores the importance of financial cooperation in making these objectives a reality. The MoU stands as a testament to the collective efforts needed to address climate challenges and transition towards a greener, more sustainable future.

  • REC Ltd. and Punjab National Bank Partner to Fund Projects

    REC Ltd. and Punjab National Bank Partner to Fund Projects

    In a significant move to support India’s power and infrastructure sectors, REC Ltd. (Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd.) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Punjab National Bank (PNB) to explore opportunities for funding projects under a consortium arrangement.

     

    According to a statement from REC, the two entities, REC and PNB, plan to collaborate on co-financing loans amounting to ₹55,000 crore over the next three years. This partnership aims to provide substantial financial support to projects in the power sector and the infrastructure & logistics sector.

     

    REC, a Maharatna Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), has diversified its portfolio in FY23 to encompass infrastructure and logistics projects. At the company’s annual general meeting in May, Vivek Kumar Dewangan, Chairman, and Managing Director of REC, highlighted the power ministry’s approval for the company to finance up to 33% of its outstanding loan book in this sector.

     

    Dewangan stated, “During the first year itself, we have sanctioned more than ₹85,700 crore towards various projects spanning from metro, ports, airports, oil refineries, highways, steel infrastructure to healthcare, educational institutions, and also in sectors of IT infrastructure/fiber optics, etc. This constitutes about 32% of the overall sanctions of the company in the last financial year.”

     

    REC traditionally provides long-term loans and financial products for the power-infrastructure sector, covering areas such as generation, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, and emerging technologies like electric vehicles, battery storage, and green hydrogen. More recently, REC has expanded its focus to the non-power infrastructure sector, with its loan book currently standing at over ₹4.54 trillion.

     

    As India undergoes an energy transition, REC is gearing up to increase its loans for green projects. The NBFC aims to expand its loan portfolio for green initiatives to ₹3 trillion by 2030. Dewangan emphasized REC’s commitment to renewable energy initiatives encompassing solar, wind, hybrid, and e-mobility projects, as well as emerging areas like green hydrogen, green ammonia projects, round-the-clock projects, and ethanol manufacturing.

     

    In April, REC successfully raised $1.15 billion, securing loans with a 5-year tenor benchmarked to Overnight SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate), the benchmark rate for USD-denominated loans. The proceeds from this facility will also be directed towards funding power, infrastructure, and logistics sector projects in line with the guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India for External Commercial Borrowings (ECB).

     

    On the stock market, REC shares on the BSE closed at ₹267.30 per share, marking a 1.15% decrease from the previous close. PNB shares on the BSE closed at ₹79.34, down 1.11% from their previous closing price.

     

    This strategic partnership between REC Ltd. and Punjab National Bank signifies a strong commitment to supporting the growth and development of India’s vital power and infrastructure sectors, ultimately contributing to the nation’s progress and economic stability.