The environment: combating climate change
After financing the first Clean Development Mechanism in South Africa in 2004 with the city of Durban (energy production project by methanization from public landfills) AFD aims to scale up operations to protect global public goods.
AFD is therefore currently finalizing the implementation of a long-term partnership with ESKOM, South Africa’s national electricity utility, in order to promote energy efficiency and renewable energies. An initial 100 million euro financing for the creation of a 100 MW wind farm on the Cape West Coast will be signed during the first quarter of 2008. The farm will be Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest wind infrastructure and will reduce annual CO2 emissions by 250 000 tons.
Moreover, AFD makes expertise available to the South-African authorities concerned in order to support their policy to combat climate change. Technical assistance to the Central Energy Fund, under the supervision of the Ministry of Mines and Energy,has recently been financed and will work on energy efficiency, renewable energies and will identify projects eligible for bank financing. AFD also supports the design of a comprehensive urban transport policy by Tshwane-Pretoria Municipality which will contribute to reducing carbon emissions and urban pollution.
