Value of loans for energy projects by HSBC worldwide 2016-2020, by sector

In 2020, power was the energy sector that received most of the loans to power companies. That year, all loans for the categories of oil and gas, infrastructure, mining, and others were exclusively constituted by project-related corporate loans.

Since 2003, HSBC has applied the Equator Principles, which according to the sources disclosures "ensures that projects are developed and operate in accordance with good international environmental and social standards". Following an update in 2013, financial institutions that have signed up to the Equator Principles are now required to apply the standards to project-related corporate loans and project-related bridge loans, as well as advisory mandates.

The Equator Principles (EPs) is a risk management framework, adopted by financial institutions, for determining, assessing and managing environmental and social risk in projects and is primarily intended to provide a minimum standard for due diligence and monitoring to support responsible risk decision-making.