Alstom Power global affairs VP Helle Juhler-Verdoner is encouraged by the recent State visit of President Jacob Zuma to Norway, where the President and Energy Minister Dipuo Peters learned more about the technology and strengthened the collaborative ties between the two countries with regard to CCS.
This, says Juhler-Verdoner, sends a signal that South Africa considers CCS to be one of the important technological solutions to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in the climate change debate.
With South Africa's influence in the Basic country grouping (Brazil, South Africa, India and China), it is hoped by supporters of the technology, that CCS can be accepted under a reformed CDM.
A United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) technical workshop on modalities and procedures for CCS in geological formations as CDM project activities was recently hosted in Abu Dhabi.
The Emirates News Agency reported that important progress towards allowing support for CCS projects under the CDM were made at the meeting. Discussion among delegates drew on expert inputs, and led to some options on ways to ensure good site selection, implement monitoring systems, establishing liability for the integrity of the project, and other important factors. The UNFCCC Secretariat is preparing these options in a negotiating text for consideration by parties in Durban.
At this meeting, Brazil voiced concern over the inclusion of CCS under the CDM, stating that it would possibly divert funds from forestry protection, where the South American country has specific interests. Read the full report here.
Source: by Christy van der Merwe, Engineering News.
