GS2445 GS1265 African Biomass Energy Conservation PoA Malawi Biomass Conservation (3)

Audit Analysis

This Gold Standard cookstove PoA in Malawi has confirmed additionality and a quantified 10% leakage deduction, but is undermined by 18 material findings, unaddressed reversal risk, no stated buffer pool, and a claimed ERR figure that exceeds the ex-ante lifetime estimate. Multiple contradictions between documents (FNRB units, monitoring method, crediting period) reduce confidence in the data record. The project is functional but carries moderate over-crediting and permanence risk.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Claimed ERR of 386,180 tCO2e exceeds the ex-ante lifetime estimate of 329,223 tCO2e, indicating potential over-crediting
• ⚠18 material findings reported in the verification report, including 8 corrective action requests, 1 compliance finding, and 4 further action requests
• ⚠Reversal events explicitly 'not addressed' and no buffer pool percentage stated for a cookstove project with inherent device-failure risk
• ⚠No usage and monitoring surveys or WBTs were conducted in Malawi in 2019 for household/domestic cookstoves (per verification report finding)
• ⚠Total verified ERR is not found in the extracted record, leaving the claimed figure unverified

Credit Vintages