UN Gives Go-Ahead for Gas Flaring Reduction Project

A collaboration project between Pemex and Statoil for reducing gas flaring at the Tres Hermanos oil field in Mexico has now been registered under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in United Nations (UN).

This is the result of a joint effort between Mexican state oil company Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and Statoil to cut CO2-emissions through curbing gas flaring. This is the first gas flaring reduction project in the Mexican oil industry registered as a CDM.

The Kyoto protocol opens up to invest in emission reduction projects in countries without mandatory emission reduction goals that have subscribed effective climate commitments (i.e. Mexico), and to earn certified emissions reductions (CERs) which then become tradeable.

"We are very satisfied with this achievement. By combining our experience and competence we have been able to develop an exciting and cost efficient project to cut CO2-emissions," said Geir Heitmann, vice president for the Power and emissions unit in Statoil.

"Obtaining registration under the CDM of our Tres Hermanos project in collaboration with Statoil is an achievement and very important for Pemex. It demonstrates our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sets the basis for the development of other reduction projects in the Northern region," said Juan Arturo Hernández Carrera, vice president for the Northern Region in Pemex Exploration and Production.

Reducing gas flaring

Pemex and Statoil started a pioneering collaboration back in 2004 to identify CDM projects, particularly in gas flaring reduction. This way Pemex committed to voluntarily reduce carbon emissions and improve its energy efficiency.

Statoil would bring its technical expertise and experience, gained in the Norwegian Continental Shelf. In return Statoil could buy from Pemex the CERs obtained by the project.

This CDM-project is part of the Tres Hermanos oil field, situated in Mexico's Veracruz state, near the city of Poza Rica. Here Pemex has been producing oil for more than six decades.