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India: L&T- Sustainable Infrastructure on-lending Facility

SUMMARY

STATUS
Approved
MEMBER
India
SECTOR
Energy
E&S CATEGORY
FI
PROJECT NUMBER
000283

FINANCING

APPROVED FUNDING
USD100 million
FINANCING TYPE
Nonsovereign

TIMELINE

CONCEPT REVIEW
April 2019
APPRAISAL REVIEW/FINAL REVIEW
June 2019
FINANCING APPROVAL
July 11, 2019

OBJECTIVE

The objective is to increase the supply of renewable energy in India through the mobilization of private capital. Upon completion, the project will increase private capital investment in renewable energy projects in India, increasing the provision of affordable, clean energy and reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions.

DESCRIPTION

The facility will be used by L&T Infrastructure Finance Limited (LTIF) to finance mid and large scale solar and wind power projects in India. LTIF, a non-bank financial company classified as Infrastructure Finance Company by Reserve Bank of India, is the leading arranger and financier of renewable energy in India. LTIF is a subsidiary of L&T Financial Holdings, which, in turn, is majority owned by the Larsen & Toubro, one of the leading engineering and construction firms in India. By combining the strengths of Larsen & Toubro’s engineering experience and LTIF’s underwriting and origination skills with AIIB’s guidance on environment and social standards, the facility promotes environmentally and socially and financially responsible project development. The proposed financing supports AIIB's Sustainable Energy for Asia Strategy and Strategy on Mobilizing Private Capital for Infrastructure. The project is aligned with the Government of India's plans to reduce India's carbon intensity by 30%-35% of 2005 levels under the Paris Agreement.

PROJECT FINANCING

For more information about project financing, please review the project summary.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION

AIIB’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP) is applicable to this on-lending facility. The project has been placed in Category FI, because the financing structure involves the provision of funds through a Financial Intermediary, whereby AIIB delegates to LTIF the decision-making on the use of AIIB’s funds for subprojects that meet the conditions to be agreed with the Client and applied through an Environmental and Management System (ESMS).

LTIF has initiated the establishment of an ESMS that will be expanded to include screening, categorizing, appraisal, contracting and monitoring of subprojects supported by AIIB in accordance with the ESP, the Environmental and Social Exclusion List, Indian regulatory requirements and where applicable the AIIB Environmental and Social Standards (ESS). A senior manager will be responsible for the oversight of the ESMS, and an investment officer will take day-to-day responsibility for its implementation, initially supported by external specialized E&S resources.

LTIF will apply eligibility criteria for selection of subprojects to avoid, where feasible, those exposed to significant risks, comprising risks of: (i) significant adverse impacts to community health and safety as a result of construction/operation of the assets; (ii) significant number of serious injuries and/or fatal accidents during construction and/or operation of the assets; (iii) involuntary resettlement of people; (iv) impacts on critical habitat, Scheduled Tribes/Indigenous Peoples and cultural resources. These sensitive activities are either to be avoided or managed in accordance with AIIB’s ESSs.

For all subprojects supported by AIIB, LTIF will require the establishment of a subproject-level ESMS in accordance with the ESP and applicable environmental and social (E&S) standards, including appropriate processes to disclose E&S information, conduct stakeholder engagement activities, and establish subproject-level GRMs to address concerns and grievances from both project workers and external stakeholders. LTIF will monitor these aspects as part of its subproject monitoring process. LTIF will be required to create an external communication mechanism to address third-party views, enquiries or concerns regarding their own E&S processes and outcomes, as well as E&S impacts and performances of their AIIB-supported subprojects. LTIF currently has a customer’s grievance redressal process and platform, accessible on:https://www.ltfs.com/companies/lt-infra-finance/contact-us.html.

AIIB will review and validate LTIF’s ESMS, and conduct a prior E&S review of the initial two subprojects to be financed using AIIB funds. Subsequently AIIB will receive a semi-annual E&S monitoring report issued by LTIF reporting on the E&S performance of all AIIB-supported subprojects. AIIB will conduct regular monitoring of LTIF’s activities, including visits to selected subprojects.

 

PORTFOLIO MONITORING OFFICER

Alok Dayal

Principal Portfolio Management Officer

alok.dayal@aiib.org

BORROWER

Sharad Nagar

Head of Treasury

Sharad.Nagar@ltfs.com

 

PROJECT DOCUMENTS

CLIENT/COFINANCING PARTNER DOCUMENTS

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