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Bridging Document between UNFC and Russian Oil and Gas Classification will greatly enhance coherent assessment of fossil fuel reserves

The assessment of global resources of oil and gas will be greatly improved with the implementation of a Bridging Document that relates the reserves and resources in the Oil and Combustible Gas of the Russian Federation Classification to the categories and classes of the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC).

 

This is the first time UNFC has been bridged to a national classification system. Industry estimates Russia’s reserves at 17.3% of the world’s gas reserves, and 6% for oil.

 

Mr. Orest Kasparov, Vice Chair, Federal Subsoil Resources Management Agency of the Russian Federation (ROSNEDRA), also representing the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia, presented the Bridging Document to UNECE Executive Secretary Christian Friis Bach immediately following its endorsement at the 25th Session of Committee on Sustainable Energy in Geneva.

 

Mr. Bach noted “This document provides a concrete linkage between the two classification systems. It will greatly improve global communication in the oil and gas sector. With fossil fuels representing 80% of primary energy in the UNECE region and 90% in the Russian Federation, we need to have a common understanding of fossil fuel reserves and resources if we want to manage them more sustainably and attain the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

 

Mr. Kasparov stated “The Bridging Document is a very important step in our efforts to enhance international cooperation in the oil and gas industry in Russia. It will allow us to improve significantly the global coordination of reserves and resource estimation.”

 

The document was prepared by the Russian Federation State Committee on Mineral Reserves (GKZ) in cooperation with the Technical Advisory Group of the UNECE Expert Group on Resource Classification. In general, Bridging Documents map the relationship between UNFC and another classification system endorsed by the Expert Group as an Aligned System. They incorporate instructions and guidelines on how to classify estimates of that Aligned System using the Numerical Codes of UNFC.

 

The 2013 Russian Federation classification of reserves of oil and combustible gases came into effect on 1 January 2016. It establishes the principles for assessment and accounting of reserves and resources of oil, combustible gases and gas condensate in Russia, while UNFC is applicable to all extractive activities worldwide (including coal, gas, oil, minerals and uranium) as well as renewables and injection projects.

 

The next phase in the cooperation with the Russian Federation on UNFC will involve development of oil and gas case studies to test the Bridging Document. Work will also start to bridge the solid minerals classification system to UNFC.


The Bridging Document is available in English and Russian on the UNECE website at: http://www.unece.org/sed/unfc/rf2013bd.html
For further information please contact:
Charlotte Griffiths, UNECE Sustainable Energy Division, at: [email protected]

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