GS12102 VPA-4 Improved cooking experience to reduce charcoal consumption in Tete, Mozambique

Audit Analysis

This Gold Standard energy-efficiency project in Mozambique has a VVB-confirmed combined additionality test and documented safeguards, but is undermined by a severe discrepancy in ERR figures across documents (claimed 3,723 vs. verified 121,821 tCO₂e), a 0% leakage deduction with contradictory justifications, and a project-specific baseline with no stated buffer pool. The low extraction confidence and 25+ resolved material findings further erode confidence in the data reliability.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Verified ERR of 121,821 tCO₂e is 32.7× the claimed 3,723 tCO₂e for the same monitoring period, creating serious over- or under-crediting risk
• ⚠Leakage deduction is 0% yet the verification report calls it 'quantified' while the monitoring report calls it 'deemed negligible' — the basis for the zero deduction is unclear
• ⚠No buffer pool percentage is stated in any document, and reversal risk is described as 'not addressed' rather than formally assessed
• ⚠Low extraction confidence across the document set means key figures may be misread or incomplete

Credit Vintages