Since 2017, Towngas has launched several green and sustainable financing mechanisms that provide funding for low-carbon projects and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives.
Green Bond
In 2017, Towngas became the first company in the energy utility sector in Hong Kong to issue green bond to finance its green initiatives.
Towngas has established a Green Bond Framework that sets out how it proposes to raise Green Bonds (Towngas Green Bonds) and the use of such bond proceeds to invest in green projects that conform to the company strategy so as to achieve Towngas' long term goal of sustainable development ("Eligible Green Investments").
Towngas’ Green Bond Framework aligns with the Green Bond Principles (GBP) of the International Capital Market Association (“ICMA”). Sustainalytics, a global ESG and corporate governance research and rating provider, has provided an independent Second-Party Opinion Report on Towngas’ Green Bond Framework, and has determined that the Framework is transparent and credible, and aligns with the four pillars of the GBP, that is, Use of Proceeds, Process for Project Evaluation and Selection, Management of Proceeds and Reporting. The Green Bonds have been recognised by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) under the Green and Sustainable Finance Certification Scheme.
An overview of the Eligible Green Investments financed through the proceeds from Towngas Green Bonds and details of the relevant investments can be found in our ESG Report.
ESG Loans
In 2021, we concluded ESG loans totalling HK$2 billion with the support of banks that trusts our commitment to ESG excellence. The loans were based on six ESG key performance indicators covering greenhouse gas emissions reduction, renewable energy generation, scrap material recycling and safety.
Sustainability-linked Bond and Green Loan
In 2022, Towngas Smart Energy (a subsidiary of the Group) became the first energy company to issue a sustainability-linked bond in Hong Kong, raising a total of US$200 million. This bond symbolises our vision of a smart energy business based on integration, digitalisation and decarbonisation. The Bond is issued with reference to the Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework, which aligns with the Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles and Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles of ICMA.
Towngas Smart Energy has also successfully arranged a 7-year green loan of RMB500 million for the development of the renewable energy business. The RMB500 million green loan proceeds have been fully allocated to investments in photovoltaic system for the generation of solar energy.
Sustainability-linked Panda Bond
In June 2023 Towngas Smart Energy issued its first Panda Bond. Raising a total of RMB1.5 billion (of which RMB500 million is sustainability-linked), the bond is the first sustainability-linked Panda Bond issued by a Hong Kong-funded enterprise on the Chinese mainland. It was oversubscribed due to strong investor interest.
This bond issuance reflects Towngas’ dedication to green initiatives and will play a significant role in the low-carbon transformation of our operations. By utilising sustainable finance and implementing environmentally friendly projects, Towngas is contributing to a greener future.