Early Warning System

Countries

Morocco

Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.

Financial Institutions

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.

Project Status

Approved

Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.

Bank Risk Rating

Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."

Voting Date

Jan 29, 2025

Date when project documentation and funding is reviewed by the Board for consideration and approval. Some development banks will state a "board date" or "decision date." When funding approval is obtained, the legal documents are accepted and signed, the implementation phase begins.

Borrower

National des Chemins de Fer

A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.

Sectors

Transport

The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.

Investment Type(s)

Fund

The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.

Investment Amount (USD)

$ 39.00 million

Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Currency conversion note:
Bank reported 38400000
Converted using 2025-01-29 exchange rate.

Primary Source

Original disclosure @ EBRD website

Updated in EWS Feb 13, 2025

Disclosed by Bank Feb 11, 2025

Contribute Information
Can you contribute information about this project?
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Project Description

If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

According to the bank-provided information, the project involves the provision of an investment of up to MAD 400mn (EUR 38.4mn) to the Office National des Chemins de Fer ("ONCF"), Morocco's national integrated railway company. The investment will entail the Bank's subscription to a local currency senior secured Green Bond issued by ONCF for up to MAD 2 billion (c. EUR 192mn) through a public placement. The Bond will be aligned with the Land Transport Criteria of the Climate Bonds Standard as verified by a Second Party Opinion ("SPO") and certified by the Climate Bonds Standard Board.

The Bond proceeds will be used to refinance a portion of ONCF's local outstanding commercial debt related to a series of prior investments targeting low carbon sustainable connectivity. The Bank's participation in Tranche A will be used to refinance debt linked to two projects under ONCF's investment programme: (i) the capacity increase through the construction of additional passenger and freight rail lines between the cities of Casablanca and Kenitra, and (ii) the acquisition and upgrade of electrified rolling stock. The investment will result in overall capital market development through supporting the second Green Bond in the sustainable infrastructure sector in Morocco.

Investment Description

Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Contact Information

This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

Oussama Lachhab
+212 5374 77777
www.oncf.ma
ONCF, 8 Bis, Rue Abderrahmane El Ghafiki, Agdal - Rabat

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can request information by emailing: accessinfo@ebrd.com or by using this electronic form: https://www.ebrd.com/eform/information-request

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF EBRD

The Project Complaint Mechanism (PCM) is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the PCM, it may assess compliance with EBRD's own policies and procedures to prevent harm to the environment or communities or it may assist you in resolving the problem that led to the complaint through a dialogue with those implementing the project. Additionally, the PCM has the authority to recommend a project be suspended in the event that harm is imminent.

You can contact the PCM at: pcm@ebrd.com or you can submit a complaint online using an online form at: http://www.ebrd.com/eform/pcm/complaint_form?language=en

You can learn more about the PCM and how to file a complaint at: http://www.ebrd.com/work-with-us/project-finance/project-complaint-mechanism.html