Shanghai, April 16

A new multilateral lender set up by the BRICS nations has approved its first set of loans valued at $811 million for renewable energy projects in four of its member countries, according to the bank.

The New Development Bank (NDB), which formally launched full operations in February, is backed by the BRICS countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It has been viewed as a challenge to other international institutions such as the World Bank.

The first group of projects approved by bank’s board are in the area of ‘green’ and renewable energy, as per a statement dated Friday.

A bank official told AFP today that the first batch includes four projects, one each in Brazil, India, China and South Africa.

“There are many more new projects in the pipeline including projects from Russia. They are at various stages of consideration or appraisal,” the NDB spokesperson said in an e-mail, but gave no further details.

China pushed for the establishment of the NDB, which is headquartered in its commercial hub of Shanghai, in what analysts say is part of government efforts to re-engineer the world’s financial institutions.

The NDB has authorised capital of $100 billion, with initial subscriptions set at $50 billion, according to its website. It is led by President KV Kamath, a former private banker from India.