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BaCaSi project : carbon sinks in Congo
A large-scale afforestation operation has been kicked off by TotalEnergies on the Batéké Plateau in partnership with the Republic of the Congo and the group Forêt Ressources Management.
Main project's drivers for reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Energy sobriety and resources
Energy decarbonization
Improved energy efficiency
Improved efficiency in the use of non-energy resources
Emission removal
Financing low-carbon issuers or disinvestment from carbon assets
Reduction of other greenhouse gases emission
Project objectives
The BaCaSi project plans the sustainable management of a 55,000-ha site made up of damaged grasslands exposed to regular bush fires, as part of the National Afforestation Program (ProNar) initiated by the Congo.
The aim is to plant a new 40,000-ha carbon sink that will capture 12 million tCO2eq over 35 years.
Detailed project description
The operation, due to last 35 years, includes:
- Planting a new forest of 38,000 ha of Acacia mangium, which will be sustainably harvested as from 2040 (selection cutting) and used to supply sawed timber and plywood to Brazzaville and Kinshasa.
- Developing a 2,000-ha agroforestry perimeter (with an eight-year rotation) of Acacia auriculiformis, associated with the production of agricultural commodities (cassava) and energy wood for the local market.
- Preserving gallery forests and other sensitive ecosystems found on the site (around 5,000 ha).
Emission scope(s)
on which the project has a significant impact
Scope 1
Direct emissions generated by the company's activity.
Scope 2
Indirect emissions associated with the company's electricity and heat consumption.
Scope 3
Emissions induced (upstream or downstream) by the company's activities, products and/or services in its value chain.
Emission Removal
Carbon sinks creation, (BECCS, CCU/S, …)
Avoided Emissions
Emissions avoided by the activities, products and/or services in charge of the project, or by the financing of emission reduction projects.
Emissions Absorptions : Afforestation of a surface area of 40,000 ha
Quantification :
- The operation will help capture around 12 MtCO2 over 35 years (almost 9 tCO2/ha/year on average)
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Key points
Invested amount
$250 M over 35 years
Starting date of the project
The Republic of the Congo, the Plateaux department (Batéké plateau)
Project localisation
November 2021
Project maturity level
Prototype laboratory test (TRL 7)
Real life testing (TRL 7-8)
Pre-commercial prototype (TRL 9)
Small-scale implementation
Medium to large scale implementation
895 ha planted in 2021 and objective of 4,000 ha for 2022.
Economic profitability of the project (ROI)
Short term (0-3 years)
Middle term (4-10 years)
Long term (> 10 years)
The additionality of the project implies an absence of financial return in the traditional sense.
Illustrations of the project
The project will help preserve the gallery forests found on site, particularly through the implementation of firewalls and surveillance of the site.
The project will be developed in association with the local communities and indigenous people, who will benefit from the agroforestry perimeter. The project will generate direct and indirect employment, and a local development fund will support actions in favor of neighboring villages in the areas of health, nutrition and education.
- SDG 2 – Zero hunger: subsistence crops maintained in the agroforestry perimeter providing wood for heating and food commodities (cassava).
- SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth: creation of decent direct jobs (1,000 on average in planting, maintenance, and surveillance activities) and around 200 indirect jobs; development of responsible work practices.
- SDG 13 – Urgent action to combat climate change: creation of carbon sinks.
- SDG 15 – Life on land: planting Acacia mangium and auriculiformis on sandy plateaus exposed to recurrent bush fires will create a forest environment, which in the long term, will increase the biodiversity of ecosystems – Conservation of existing gallery forests.
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals: contributing to the development of local communities.
The acacia-cassava model developed in the frame of the BaCaSi project has already been tested in the sub-region. It can be replicated on damaged grasslands.
Forêt Ressources Management through its Congolese subsidiary Forest’Neutral Congo
Contact the company carrying the project :
https://totalenergies.com/fr/formulaire-de-contact
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