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Renewable Energy Sector Development Project

Country
South Africa South Africa
Status
Approved
Area Of Operation
Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency
Type
Non-Sovereign

Quick Facts

Financing Approval Date
31 March 2019
Current Limit of NDB Financing
ZAR 1.15 billion
Borrower
Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (IDC)
Project Entity
Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (IDC)

More About This Project

South Africa is on the trajectory of greener and more sustainable development, transitioning away from fossil fuel based energy sources. In particular, South Africa has committed to reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from its emissions growth trend by 34% in 2020, and by 42% in 2025, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (IDC), a National Financial Intermediary (NFI) in South Africa, has been an important player towards realizing these goals, being a significant financing provider in South Africa’s energy sector and facilitating private sector participation in the sector. In this context, the Renewable Energy Sector Development Project is designed to help the economy shift towards a more sustainable energy path, through facilitating investments in renewable energy that will contribute to power generation mix and avoidance of carbon dioxide emissions in South Africa.

The proposed NDB loan through the modality of a two-step loan will be used by IDC for on-lending to its identified sub-projects including solar, biomass and wind energy sectors.

The objective of the Project is to facilitate investments in renewable energy that will contribute to power generation mix and avoidance of carbon dioxide emissions in South Africa, in line with the South African Government’s Integrated Resource Plan, and its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions as articulated in the National Development Plan 2030.
The positive impacts of the Project include increase in generation capacity from renewable energy sources leading to avoidance of CO2 emissions. After successful implementation of the Project, electricity of no less than 500 GWh will be generated annually from renewable sources leading to savings in CO2 emissions of around 480,000 tons annually. The development impacts of the Project also include an overall increase in the efficiency of the energy sector in South Africa, which is now heavily reliant on coal. In addition, the Project is expected to contribute to unlocking private sector investment, and increasing availability of long-term local currency (ZAR) funds for energy sector projects in South Africa.

The Project is estimated to be implemented between 2019 and 2023. Suppliers for the Project will be selected through competitive and transparent bidding processes

The Project has been classified as Category “FI-B”, in accordance with NDB Environment and Social Framework (ESF), as funding will be through a financial intermediary. The individual sub-projects are likely to be Category “B”, in accordance with the NDB ESF. NDB will have the right to review the environmental and social categorization of subprojects by IDC, and if a sub-project is categorized as Category “A” in accordance with the NDB ESF, it will require NDB’s approval. The subprojects to be supported are required to comply with the requirements of the environmental and social framework in South Africa.

NDB will provide a loan without sovereign guarantee to the NFI, IDC, with an amount up to ZAR 1.15 billion. NDB’s financing may not exceed 50% of sub-project costs, unless otherwise agreed by NDB.
Source of Fund Amount (ZAR billion)
NDB
1.15
Other Sources
10.50
NDB Borrower and Project Entity
Africa Regional Centre

Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Mlungisi Mkhwanazi

mlungisim@idc.co.za