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Nigeria Launches Regulatory Framework for Green Bonds

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  • Nigeria Launches Regulatory Framework for Green Bonds

Nigeria’s apex capital market regulator, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has unveiled a regulatory framework for issuance of green bonds in Nigeria, providing the much-needed guidelines for the development of the new market.

SEC has issued a circular on the incorporation of new rules and regulations on green bond into the rules and regulations at the Nigerian capital market.

The green bond regulatory framework defined a green bond as any type of debt instrument, the proceeds of which will be exclusively applied to finance or re-finance in part or in full new and or existing projects that have positive environmental impact.

The rules indicated that green bonds would be used exclusively to finance renewable and sustainable energy, clean transportation, sustainable water management, climate change adaptation, energy efficiency, sustainable waste management, sustainable land use, bio-diversity conservation and any other categories as may be approved by SEC from time to time.

The regulations highlighted some special conditions that any issuer of green bond must fulfill in addition to the general registration requirements for debt issuances as stated in the Rules and Regulations of the Commission for states, local governments, corporate and supranational agencies.

According to the rules, an issuer of a green bond shall also file a feasibility study and report, stating clearly the measurable benefits of the proposed green project or assets such as green house gas reduction, reduction of water use and reduction of harmful emissions.

The issuer must also file a prospectus, which shall include project categories, project selection criteria, decision-making procedures, environmental benefits, use and management of the proceeds as well as a letter from the issuer committing to invest proceeds of the bond in green projects or assets.

The issuer must also provide an independent assessment or certification issued by a professional certification authority or person approved or recognised by the Commission in addition to any other documents that may be required by the Commission.

“The net proceeds shall only be utilised for the purpose stated in the approved offer documents and shall be tracked as stated in the approved internal policy of the Issuer which shall be disclosed in the offer documents,” the rules stated.

The parties to the issue are expected to create an escrow account meant specifically for the net proceeds of the offer while the proceeds shall be domiciled with the custodian. While the trustees shall ensure that the proceeds are used for the purpose stated in the prospectus, the issuer and the trustees shall be the signatories to the escrow account.

“The issuer shall invest proceeds in green projects within the given time frame prescribed in the prospectus. Unallocated proceeds shall be invested in money market instruments with investment grade rating and this shall be disclosed in the offer documents,” according to the rules.

According to the rules, where the issuer proposes to utilise a proportion of the issue proceeds of the issue of green bonds, towards refinancing of existing green assets, the issuer shall clearly provide in the offer document the details of the portfolio, assets and projects which are identified for such refinancing.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Crude Oil

Oil Prices Continue to Slide: Drops Over 1% Amid Surging U.S. Stockpiles

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Crude Oil

Amidst growing concerns over surging U.S. stockpiles and indications of static output policies from major oil-producing nations, oil prices declined for a second consecutive day by 1% on Wednesday.

Brent crude oil, against which the Nigerian oil price is measured, shed 97 cents or 1.12% to $85.28 per barrel.

Similarly, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slumped by 93 cents or a 1.14% fall to close at $80.69.

The recent downtrend in oil prices comes after they reached their highest level since October last week.

However, ongoing concerns regarding burgeoning U.S. crude inventories and uncertainties surrounding potential inaction by the OPEC+ group in their forthcoming technical meeting have exacerbated the downward momentum.

Market analysts attribute the decline to expectations of minimal adjustments to oil output policies by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, until a full ministerial meeting scheduled for June.

In addition to concerns about excess supply, the market’s attention is also focused on the impending release of official government data on U.S. crude inventories, scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT).

Analysts are keenly observing OPEC members for any signals of deviation from their production quotas, suggesting further volatility may lie ahead in the oil market.

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Energy

Nigeria Targets $5bn Investments in Oil and Gas Sector, Says Government

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Crude Oil - Investors King

Nigeria is setting its sights on attracting $5 billion worth of investments in its oil and gas sector, according to statements made by government officials during an oil and gas sector retreat in Abuja.

During the retreat organized by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, explained the importance of ramping up crude oil production and creating an environment conducive to attracting investments.

He highlighted the need to work closely with agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to achieve these goals.

Lokpobiri acknowledged the challenges posed by issues such as insecurity and pipeline vandalism but expressed confidence in the government’s ability to tackle them effectively.

He stressed the necessity of a globally competitive regulatory framework to encourage investment in the sector.

The minister’s remarks were echoed by Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, who spoke at the 2024 Strategic Women in Energy, Oil, and Gas Leadership Summit.

Kyari stressed the critical role of energy in driving economic growth and development and explained that Nigeria still faces challenges in providing stable electricity to its citizens.

Kyari outlined NNPCL’s vision for the future, which includes increasing crude oil production, expanding refining capacity, and growing the company’s retail network.

He highlighted the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s vast gas resources and optimizing dividend payouts to shareholders.

Overall, the government’s commitment to attracting $5 billion in investments reflects its determination to revitalize the oil and gas sector and drive economic growth in Nigeria.

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Commodities

Palm Oil Rebounds on Upbeat Malaysian Exports Amid Indonesian Supply Concerns

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Palm Oil - Investors King

Palm oil prices rebounded from a two-day decline on reports that Malaysian exports will be robust this month despite concerns over potential supply disruptions from Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil exporter.

The market saw a significant surge as Malaysian export figures for the current month painted a promising picture.

Senior trader David Ng from IcebergX Sdn. in Kuala Lumpur attributed the morning’s gains to Malaysia’s strong export performance, with shipments climbing by a notable 14% during March 1-25 compared to the previous month.

Increased demand from key regions like Africa, India, and the Middle East contributed to this impressive growth, as reported by Intertek Testing Services.

However, amidst this positivity, investors are closely monitoring developments in Indonesia. The Indonesian government’s contemplation of revising its domestic market obligation policy, potentially linking it to production rather than exports, has stirred market concerns.

Edy Priyono, a deputy at the presidential staff office in Jakarta, indicated that this proposed shift aims to mitigate vulnerability to fluctuations in export demand.

Yet, it could potentially constrain supply availability from Indonesia in the future to stabilize domestic prices.

This uncertainty surrounding Indonesian policies has added a layer of complexity to palm oil market dynamics, prompting investors to react cautiously despite Malaysia’s promising export performance.

The prospect of Indonesian supply disruptions underscores the delicacy of global palm oil supply chains and their susceptibility to geopolitical and regulatory factors.

As the market navigates these developments, stakeholders remain attentive to both export data from Malaysia and policy shifts in Indonesia, recognizing their significant impact on palm oil prices and market stability.

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