GS2444 "GS1265" African Biomass Energy Conservation PoA Malawi Biomass Conservation (2)

Audit Analysis

This Gold Standard PoA for domestic cookstoves in Malawi has VVB-confirmed additionality and a quantified 10% leakage deduction, but is undermined by a claimed ERR roughly six times the ex-ante lifetime estimate, extensive material findings (including stoves no longer operational at site visit), over 25 corrective actions, and multiple cross-document contradictions in key figures. The project-specific baseline, absence of a stated buffer pool, and data-quality issues in monitoring (duplicate sales entries, missing KPT, inconsistent emission factors) collectively raise significant over-crediting and permanence concerns.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Claimed ERR of 387,394 tCO2e is approximately 5.9× the ex-ante lifetime estimate of 65,200 tCO2e from the PDD, indicating a severe over-crediting signal
• ⚠Site visit found end-user stoves in Malawi and Rwanda were no longer operational, raising reversal/permanence concerns with no buffer pool stated
• ⚠No usage and monitoring surveys or WBTs were conducted in Malawi in 2019, yet ERRs were still claimed for that period
• ⚠Sales database contained duplicate entries and non-CO2/CO2 emission factors were inconsistent with PoA DD NCV values
• ⚠12 cross-document contradictions identified, including conflicting leakage justifications, ERR figures, FNRB units, and crediting periods

Credit Vintages