Colombia - Strengthen the MRV system for the mining sector

Rationale

The mining and energy sector is a significant source of methane and black carbon emissions, including from coal extraction, natural gas releases, and diesel fuels. The mining sector is the third largest emitter after the forestry and agriculture sector, emitting 32.3 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. 

Colombia’s baseline emissions under a business-as-usual scenario indicate that the emissions from the mining sector is projected to increase by 54.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. Under a scenario where mitigation measures are implemented, emissions are projected to increase by 42.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. To address these emissions, Colombia has a sub-sector strategy for the mining sector within its Integrated Plan for Climate Change Management.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy is in the process of updating its MRV reporting for the mining sector, working to identify baselines and indicators to evaluate the results from emissions reduction measures. This includes a methane emission calculation that requires a potential analysis and a definition of mitigation options that could be implemented in this sector.

This project will allow progress in the fulfilment of the Global Methane Pledge, a voluntary commitment to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels, to which Colombia is a member.

Project reference:  [CO-23-004] Colombia - Strengthen the MRV system for the mining sector

Objectives

This project aims to:

• Increase the capacity of The Ministry of Energy and Mines of Colombia for data collection, monitoring, reporting, and verification.
• Increase the capacity of The Ministry of Energy and Mines of Colombia to assess methane mitigation measures for the mining sector, and strengthen monitoring, reporting, and verification.

Activities

To achieve these objectives the project will

• Train government officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mines on international best practices for monitoring, reporting and verification of methane emissions from mine sources, including on recommended methods to improve MRV systems.
• Train government officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mines on data collection methods to better assess emissions from coal mines, including the gassiness of underground coal seams leveraging satellite data. 
• Assess methane emissions mitigation for underground and surface coal mines.
• Develop a proposed portfolio of mitigation options for methane emission reductions for the mining industry.
• Develop recommendations for strengthening MRV reporting for Colombia's mining sector.