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Greenhouse gas mitigation

Feb 10, 2023

To achieve the emissions reduction objective, the company implemented a decarbonization plan which considers actions in the following components:

 

Climate ambition

 

Ecopetrol pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 (scopes 1 and 2) and to reduce 25% of its CO2e emissions by 2030 compared to the 2019 baseline (scopes 1 and 2). Also, Ecopetrol aims to reduce 50% of its total emissions by 2050 (Scopes 1, 2 and 3) compared to the 2019 baseline. See the details of this information: Ecopetrol Group announces its commitment and plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

To achieve this, Ecopetrol has defined a decarbonization plan which includes short, medium and long-term actions in (i) GHG emissions inventory management, (ii) Implementation and investment in emission reduction technologies, (iii) Strategic portfolio review and (iv) Offsetting of residual emissions.

Decarbonization Plan

 

GHG Emissions Inventory

 

Ecopetrol's GHG emissions inventory has been elaborated under ISO 14064-1 and GHG Protocol methodologies. In 2021, the period 2017 - 2020 was verified by Ruby Canyon Environmental, according to ISO 14064-3:2006. It covered 100% of emissions generated in Colombia in the facilities where the company has operational control. In 2023, Ecopetrol is preparing to verify its inventory for the period 2021 - 2022.

For 2022, the total emissions for scopes 1 and 2 correspond to 13,659,049 tCO₂e. Based on the Scope 3 categories review and update, the estimation for this scope was ~147 MtCO₂e.

In 2022, the historical series 2019 - 2022 was recalculated, considering the following: 

  • Bottom-up and top-down measurements performed in the upstream segment, which covered 95% of the company's facilities, include: (i) improvement in the detection, quantification, and closure of fugitive emissions and vents, (ii) adjustment and calculation of own emission factors and (iii) change in the emissions estimation methodology. These adjustments represent an increase in emissions of ~2.7 million tons of CO₂e/year.

  • Reversion of the Nare asset in the upstream segment.

 

See GHG Emissions Inventory details.

GHG emissions inventory

 

Reduction initiatives

 

Ecopetrol establishes a voluntary annual GHG emission reduction target, built from the identification of projects proposed to enter into operation in the following year. In 2022, the reduction achieved by the implementation of the new projects was 416.672 tCO2e. The total cumulative reduction in the 2020 - 2022 period was 910.113 tCO₂e.

GHG emissions reduction program

 

Methane emissions reduction

 

Ecopetrol is a member of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), which leads the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0) initiative in order to improve the measurement and reporting of methane emissions through the following commitments:

  • Report emissions from 100% of operated assets by 2024 (Levels 4 and 5).
  • Report emissions from 100% of non-operated assets by 2026 (Levels 4 and 5).
  • Define a methane reduction target that leverages compliance with the sectoral target proposed by CCAC member companies to reduce methane emissions by 45% by 2025 and 60-75% by 2030, over the levels estimated in 2015.

In March 2023, Ecopetrol publicly announced its commitment to reduce 45% of its methane emissions by 2025, compared to the 2019 baseline in the upstream direct operations. This target also contributes to the commitment acquired by the Country at the COP 26 - Conference of the Parties held in Glasgow in 2021, to reduce 30% of methane emissions by 2023, and to the challenges established in the Paris Agreement to mitigate global warming.

For further information about the description of the reporting levels, please refer to the following link: https://www.ccacoalition.org/sites/default/files/resources/OGMP%202.0%20Reporting%20Framework%20-%20final.pdf

 

Since 2019, systematic progress has been made in the detection, quantification, and closure of fugitive emissions and venting using different cutting-edge technologies such as infrared cameras and flow meters (Bottom-Up approach), and analysis of satellite images and flights with methane sensors (Top-Down approach), covering about 95% of the company's operations.

 

Zero Routine Flaring by 2030

In January 2020, Ecopetrol joined the "Zero Routine Flaring by 2030" initiative led by the World Bank that gathers governments, oil companies, and institutions that recognize routine gas flaring as both economically and environmentally unsustainable, therefore different organizations agree to cut out routine gas flaring in production activities by 2030 at the latest. 

By endorsing this initiative, Ecopetrol acquires the following commitments: 

  1. End routine flaring in existing fields as soon as possible and no later than 2030, provided it is economically feasible. 
  2. Avoid routine flaring in new oilfield developments and maintain a traceable and demonstrable effort to reduce gas flaring. 
  3. Report annually the flared gas to the Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR) where the reduction in flaring can be evidenced in Ecopetrol. 

To meet the commitments of the initiative by 2030, Ecopetrol has built a roadmap with actions and goals in the short and medium term.

For further information about the initiative, please refer to the following link: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/zero-routine-flaring-by-2030/about
 

 

Emission offsetting

 

To support the compliance of mid-and long-term decarbonization targets, Ecopetrol is developing a GHG emission offset portfolio, mainly, based on Natural Climate Solutions (NCS). Since 2020, Ecopetrol has been working with allies such as The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, Fondo Acción, ISA-Conexión Jaguar, Fundación Natura and South Pole in the SNC portfolio implementation with a mitigation potential of  over one million tons of CO2 equivalent. See more information: Nature-Based Solutions.

For residual emissions offsetting, Ecopetrol has established a series of criteria for the purchase of carbon offsets to guarantee its quality, additionality, and communities’ impact.

  • Use of recognized standards
  • Preferably, located in Colombia
  • Reductions not greater than five years
  • Mainly natural climate solutions projects
  • Preferably, environmental, and social co-benefits

In addition, to facilitate Ecopetrol's decarbonization targets compliances, our NCS portfolio also seeks to strengthen the Colombian carbon market through the generation of baselines, methodologies and monitoring systems that enhance the quality and offsets offer available in the national market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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