BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.10
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
As of September 2020, Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR has been extended for four months until December 31, 2020, UNDP told Trend.
“Although we achieved a lot over the last five years, the NAMA project, also known as Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions, has faced a range of challenges due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Since March we planned to host two workshops that would bring specialists in energy efficiency in buildings, transport and associated gas capturing from oil wells to summarize the outcomes of our project and make suggestions on the further steps regarding the matter. However, unfortunately, neither workshops nor other pending activities had a chance to be finalized.
“In this regard, after much thought and consideration, the UNDP decided to extend the NAMA project up to the 31st of December 2020.
“Presently, there are no changes in the extended version of the project and all the activities will continue to be implemented as per Project Document, said UNDP.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) signed an agreement on Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) for low-carbon end-use sectors of the country in February 2015, which expired on March 20, 2020.
The specific objective of the project is to support SOCAR in the implementation of its Climate Change Strategy. Promoting and up-scaling greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation measures is introduced and implemented during project period. Thus, pilot investments are directed into energy efficiency and low carbon technologies in the country. The NAMA project is jointly financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNDP and SOCAR and will be implemented by SOCAR and UNDP Azerbaijan.
The project is addressing the existing challenges to improve the energy performance of main end-use sectors, namely buildings and transportation. Vented and flared gas from existing on-shore oil and gas fields is captured through the mitigation activities and later is utilized as a fuel source for nearby residential areas that are otherwise affected by large-scale deforestation activities. The project is consistent with International Climate Change Mitigation Objectives.
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