Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) has launched a new green finance framework for the issuance of green bonds, sukuks, loans, and other key debt instruments.
Proceeds from these new offers will go to eligible green projects including renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable water and wastewater management, clean transportation, and terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. Projects that are being financed under the Framework will contribute to TAQA’s 2030 ESG targets, as well as its long-term Net Zero goal.
TAQA’s Green Finance Framework is aligned with the global best practices set out under the four core components of the Green Bond Principles 2021 published by the International Capital Market Association (ICMA).
TAQA has also obtained a Second Party Opinion (SPO) from Moody’s Investor Services (Moody’s). Moody’s has also assessed the framework and given it a Sustainability Quality Score of SQS2 (Very Good), the second-highest score under Moody’s SPO scoring framework – which means it demonstrates a significant contribution to sustainability.
In late December 2020, it was announced that US $1bn in financing would kick off world’s largest solar project and, in mid January 2022, TAQA and Etisalat Digital joined forces for an advanced metering infrastructure project.
TAQA’s Group CEO and Managing Director Jasim Husain Thabet said the green finance framework was an important mechanism to help the group finance the journey towards achieving its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, as a low carbon power and water champion.
“This framework is further evidence of how serious we are about putting sustainability and responsible business practices at the heart of everything we do, as we also support the UAE in achieving its Net Zero by 2050 objective. Our own emission reduction targets are backed by a business plan and credible green projects that will see us play a key role in de-carbonising the power and water sector and other industries in the UAE and worldwide,” he explained.
In late 2022, the Abu Dhabi energy group announced its 2030 ESG Strategy, which included interim greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals. As a credible step towards achieving its Net Zero ambitions by 2050, TAQA has committed to a 25% reduction of Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 across the Group, including a 33% reduction of the UAE portfolio emissions compared to the 2019 baseline.
In mid August 2022, TAQA reported a 50% increase in net income to $1.17bn for H1 2022.
Source: Paul Godfrey, Middle East Construction News
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