(Singapore Jan 21, 2020) ComfortDelGro Corporation has become the first land transport company headquartered in Singapore to adopt green financing, the transport giant announced in a media statement today.
The A$25 million facility was secured by the Group’s Australian subsidiary, ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia Pty Ltd, from OCBC Bank to finance its hybrid bus fleet in Victoria, the statement says.
Mr Yang Ban Seng, Managing Director and Group CEO of ComfortDelGro: “This green loan marks another milestone for ComfortDelGro in our sustainability journey, following the inclusion of the Group in the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index (DJSI Asia Pacific) in September 2019.
“As an environment-conscious transport company, sustainability considerations are indeed at the core of our business strategy, and this green financing is a natural fit for us,” he added.
Proceeds from the loan, which has been structured in accordance with the Green Loan Principles issued in 2018 by the Loan Market Association and Asia Pacific Loan Market Association, will be used to finance 50 hybrid buses. Delivery of these environmentally friendly buses has already started with the last batch of buses expected in mid-2022, the statement said.
All 50 low-floor buses will feature Volvo’s Parallel Hybrid driveline and meet Euro VI emission standards. Tests have shown that the Volvo hybrid driveline reduces nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions by up to 50% and lowers fuel consumption by up to 39% in mixed traffic, the statement said.
According to the statement, the hybrid buses use 30% less fuel and emit significantly less noise when idling at and departing from stops.
OCBC Bank ended 2019 atop two sustainable finance league tables in Asia Pacific ex Japan – Bloomberg’s 2019 Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) league table for green loans and renewable energy loans and Debtwire’s 2019 MLA league table for green loans and sustainability-linked loans – and aims to build on its lead by bringing green finance to a wider range of sectors.
This green loan broadens its capabilities and expands its sustainable finance portfolio to the transportation sector which is an important step towards its goal of building a S$10 billion sustainable finance portfolio by 2022.
Ms Elaine Lam, Head of Global Corporate Banking, OCBC Bank, said: “Investment in low carbon public transportation is critical to developing sustainable cities and thereby contributing towards UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). ”
“OCBC is pleased to advise ComfortDelGro on its Green Finance Framework and support its sustainable operations in Australia. We hope this green loan by ComfortDelGro sends a positive message to encourage peer industry players to take steps to support sustainable urban development through green financing options,” she added.
ComfortDelGro Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of ComfortDelGro, which has been recognised as one of the world’s most sustainable companies. This Green Loan further attests to ComfortDelGro’s commitment towards sustainability within the transportation sector as it focusses on Climate Strategy, Fuel Efficiency, Corporate Governance, Risk and Crisis Management, Labour Practices as well as Talent Attraction and Retention.
