The World Bank estimates that just over 60% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population is without access to electricity.
Access to reliable and affordable energy is a pre-condition for addressing a broad range of challenges, including access to healthcare, access to education, food security, economic growth and job creation. Renewable energy technologies offer cost-effective and sustainable solutions. We invested in 435 MW of renewable energy in South Africa and 37 MW in Namibia in 2018.
Since 2012, an estimated 984 900 equivalent homes have received renewable power from Standard Bank financed projects in South Africa.
435 MW of renewable energy added to South Africa’s energy supply, providing reliable and affordable energy for local communities and creating jobs.
37 MW of solar power added to Namibia’s grid, increasing energy capacity by 7%, avoiding emissions of 33 000 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent every year, reducing dependence on regional power imports, and bringing down the cost of electricity for consumers.
Standard Bank provided finance for six green energy projects in South Africa in 2018:
In Namibia,
Standard Bank partnered with Proparco, a French development finance institution, to
develop the
funding structure for the 37 MW Mariental solar photovoltaic plant. Stanbic Namibia
was the co-mandated lead
arranger and underwriter with Proparco. The plant is the first large-scale
independent power producer project in Namibia,
and one of the largest photovoltaic plants in Africa outside South Africa. It will
increase Namibia’s generation capacity by
5%, generating 120 000 MW hours per year for over 25 years, and avoid emission of 33
000 metric tonnes of CO2
equivalent every year. It will also reduce Namibia’s dependence of regional power
imports and contribute towards
Namibia’s long-term vision to be a self-sufficient solar power generator. Standard
Bank’s strong in-country balance sheet
enabled Proparco to denominate and assume credit risk in local currency,
significantly reducing the quantum of risk.
Reduced risk costs, together with competitive terms secured under the long-term
electricity sale agreement, ensure
consumers will pay less for their electricity per kilowatt hour, compared to current
Namibian rates. The innovative use of
local currency lending also has the potential to deepen African capital markets by
developing new mechanisms to use
African savings and capital to drive African growth.
Standard Bank undertook an environmental and social (E&S) risk due diligence on Alten Solar Power (Hardap) Proprietary Ltd, the consortium selected to construct the plant, prior to the pre-credit application. We reviewed the project’s environmental and social impact assessment and commissioned an independent environmental audit against IFC performance standards. On the basis of gaps identified in the audit, Alten developed a comprehensive Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) for the project. This included specific commitments applicable to pre-construction, and during construction and operation. Quarterly independent E&S audits were carried out during construction to ensure compliance with the IFC performance standards, ESMS and specific commitments of the financing. The main concerns related to the construction phase included labour recruitment and accommodation. Audit findings were addressed with corrective action plans, which were followed up to ensure implementation. An independent audit will be undertaken during the first year of operation to further ensure E&S compliance. Ongoing monitoring and annual reporting will continue for the tenor of the transaction.
In Ghana, Standard Bank and ICBC were part of a
consortium, led by the International Finance Corporation, to
arrange finance for Phase I of Ghana’s new container terminal at Tema Port. The
expansion of the terminal will be
one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Ghana and will
establish Ghana as a leading maritime hub in
West Africa. Phase 1 includes construction of a quay with three container berths,
creating a 92 ha yard, constructing a
breakwater and dredging an access channel, harbour basin, and other maritime access
infrastructure. Upon completion of
this phase, the new facility is expected to have an annual capacity of one million
containers and be able to service some of
the world’s largest container ships. Work began in October 2016 and is scheduled for
completion during 2019.
Standard Bank is also working with Meridian Port Services to improve the efficiency of the port, implementing paperless transactions with the introduction of the MPS Pay Gate web portal. This will greatly improve efficiency and costeffectiveness for port users, cutting time and cost of cross-border trade. Stanbic Ghana is developing the e-payment portion of the portal, ensuring full compliance with data protection regulations and security for users.uring full compliance with data protection regulations and security for users.