Up Energy Improved Cookstoves Programme, Uganda – CPA No 039 supported by Republic of Korea

Audit Analysis

The Up Energy Improved Cookstoves project in Uganda has a verified additionality assessment and quantified leakage deduction, but is undermined by a severe discrepancy between the verified emissions reduction (600,815 tCO₂e for one monitoring year) and the lifetime ex-ante estimate (113,098 tCO₂e), a ratio of roughly 27× the pro-rata annual expectation. Multiple material findings in the verification report flag inconsistencies in thermal efficiency parameters and data alignment with the project design document, and several contradictions across documents (FNRB method, usage monitoring approach, crediting period) reduce confidence in the MRV chain. The project's safeguards and FPIC documentation are adequate, but the overall data reliability is compromised.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Verified ERR of 600,815 tCO₂e for the 2022 monitoring period is approximately 27× the pro-rata annual expectation derived from the 113,098 tCO₂e lifetime ex-ante estimate over a 5-year crediting period, indicating a severe over-crediting or parameter inconsistency risk
• ⚠The 2022 monitoring period falls entirely before the current crediting period (Dec 2024 – Dec 2029), yet the verified figure is reported alongside the current ex-ante estimate without clear reconciliation
• ⚠Multiple material findings (CL 01–CL 07) flag inconsistencies in rated thermal efficiency, parameter choices, and data alignment between the monitoring report and the project design document
• ⚠FNRB method is contradicted across documents: the 2022 verification report states a national default while the 2025 validation report states local field data, with no clear resolution
• ⚠Usage monitoring method is contradicted: the verification report describes an annual survey while the 2024 appendix describes an assumed value, weakening MRV confidence

Credit Vintages Exhausted