Russia introduces Insurance Mechanism for Carbon Registry to safeguard CCUS projects

source: go Russia

Russia has formally approved new operating procedures for carbon unit reservation accounts within its national registry, establishing a regulatory safety net for climate projects carrying a risk of future greenhouse gas release.

Published on the official legal information portal, the resolution mandates that when carbon units (CUs) are issued for vulnerable activities, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), a portion must automatically transfer to a dedicated reservation account.

Units held in these insurance accounts cannot be sold, pledged, encumbered, or seized.

Reserved credits can only be released and transferred to active circulation once a fully verified report confirming sustained project performance and emission reductions is submitted.

The new rules will officially take effect on March 1, 2027, and remain in force through March 1, 2033, providing a six-year framework for high-risk industrial carbon management.

Aligning Russian Carbon Markets With Global Offset Standards

According to Russia’s Economic Development Ministry, the unified reservation system acts as a buffer against accidental re-emissions that could otherwise invalidate the net-zero contributions of registered projects.

The regulatory update is part of a broader push to align Russia’s domestic carbon credit framework with international standards, particularly as the nation prepares to participate in CORSIA, the global carbon offsetting scheme for international aviation.

The national carbon registry is currently operated by JSC Kontur, which reports approximately 37.66 million standard carbon units and 535,200 compliance units currently in circulation.

With over 120 million carbon units expected to be issued from already registered climate projects, the reserve rule ensures structural integrity as larger industrial decarbonization developments come online across the country.

source: carbon herald