BioLite Improved Cook stoves Programme - CPA 019 supported by Republic of Korea

Audit Analysis

The BioLite Improved Cook Stoves Programme in Uganda is a Gold Standard energy-efficiency project with a confirmed additionality test and quantified 5% leakage deduction, but it is significantly undermined by an extensive list of material findings (8 CARs, 3 CLs), numerous inter-document inconsistencies, and unresolved data contradictions—particularly in the fuel net radiative forcing value and the crediting period length. The project delivered only about 60% of its pro-rata expected emissions reductions for the 2023 monitoring year, and CORSIA eligibility introduces dual-channel risk.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Fuel net radiative forcing value differs by a factor of ~97 between the verification report (0.807) and the PDD (78.75), with no unit clarification—this is a critical data-reliability issue
• ⚠Crediting period stated as 5 years (2019–2024) in the verification report but 20 years (2018–2038) in the validation report, creating ambiguity about the true project lifetime
• ⚠17 corrective actions and 8 CARs were required, including missing end-user databases, sales records, photos, and training records—core MRV evidence was initially absent
• ⚠Reversal events are explicitly 'not addressed' and no buffer pool percentage is stated, leaving permanence risk unquantified
• ⚠CORSIA eligibility is confirmed while CCP status is not stated, creating potential dual-channel crediting risk

Credit Vintages