Keppel Land seeks opportunities to grow its green funding sources. In June 2019, Keppel Land, through a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Land China, secured its first green loan facility of RMB 850 million from the HSBC Group China for the development of Seasons City (Phase 1) in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, China. This is the first green loan granted by HSBC Group China to support the development of a property project in Mainland China. Green loans are loan instruments made available exclusively to finance or re-finance eligible green projects, where the project must demonstrate clear environmental benefits which can be assessed.
Phase 1 of Seasons City has been conferred the BCA Green Mark Platinum Award (Provisional). Seasons City adopts energy-efficient lighting designs, chillers and ventilation systems, as well as utilises non-potable water to reduce water consumption. A photovoltaic system and a solar hot water system have also been installed to tap renewable energy. The total energy and water savings to be achieved by Seasons City (Phase 1) is estimated to be over RMB 9 million a year.
In December 2020, City Square Office Company Limited, Keppel Land’s joint venture with Myanmar conglomerate Shwe Taung Group, secured a US$40.5 million green loan from OCBC Bank and UOB. The loan has been used towards the financing of Junction City Tower, the award-winning office component of Junction City located in downtown Yangon.
In addition, Keppel Land secured its maiden sustainability-linked loan from DBS Bank in June 2021. The five-year S$150 million facility references the Singapore Overnight Rate Average, the first such loan for Keppel Land.