United Nations Framework Classification for Resources

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United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) is an international scheme for the classification, management and reporting of energy, mineral, and raw material resources. [1] [2] [3] United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UNECE) Expert Group on Resource Management (EGRM) is responsible for the development promotion and further development of UNFC.

Contents

Development

Classification and management of natural resources such as minerals and petroleum are classified using differing schemes. [4] [5] In 1997, UNECE published the United Nations Framework Classification for Reserves and Resources of Solid Fuels and Mineral Commodities (UNFC-1997) as a unifying international system for classifying solid minerals and fuels. [6] In 2004, the Classification was revised to include petroleum (oil and natural gas) and uranium and renamed the UNFC for Fossil Energy and Mineral Resources 2004 (UNFC-2004). [7] In 2009, a simplified United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC-2009) was published. [8] In response to the application of UNFC being extended to renewable energy, injection projects for geological storage and anthropogenic resources, the name was changed in 2017 to the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC). An updated version of UNFC, with improved terminology, was released in 2019. [9]

Application

The UNFC system is used for:

  1. Policy formulation in energy and raw material studies
  2. National resources management functions
  3. Corporate business processes
  4. Financial reporting

UNFC currently applies to minerals, [10] petroleum, [10] renewable energy, [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] nuclear fuel resources, [3] injection projects for geological storage, [16] and anthropogenic resources. [17] Application of UNFC to groundwater resources is being evaluated.

Implementation

UNFC has been adopted as the basis of national resource classification in many countries including China, India, [18] [19] Mexico, [20] Poland [21] and Ukraine. African Union Commission has developed a UNFC-based African Mineral and Energy Resources Classification and Management System (AMREC) as a unifying system for Africa. [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] AMREC includes a Pan African Resource Reporting Code (PARC 2023). European Commission is using UNFC to classify and report raw material resources of Europe and mandated the same in the Critical Raw Materials Act. [27] [28]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natural resource</span> Resources that exist without actions of humankind.

Natural resources are resources that are drawn from nature and used with few modifications. This includes the sources of valued characteristics such as commercial and industrial use, aesthetic value, scientific interest, and cultural value. On Earth, it includes sunlight, atmosphere, water, land, all minerals along with all vegetation, and wildlife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Economic Commission for Europe</span> U.N. Commission for economic cooperation among its member states

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe is one of the five regional commissions under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It was established in order to promote economic cooperation and integration among its member states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Resource depletion</span> Depletion of natural organic and inorganic resources

Resource depletion is the consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished. Natural resources are commonly divided between renewable resources and non-renewable resources. The use of either of these forms of resources beyond their rate of replacement is considered to be resource depletion. The value of a resource is a direct result of its availability in nature and the cost of extracting the resource. The more a resource is depleted the more the value of the resource increases. There are several types of resource depletion, including but not limited to: mining for fossil fuels and minerals, deforestation, pollution or contamination of resources, wetland and ecosystem degradation, soil erosion, overconsumption, aquifer depletion, and the excessive or unnecessary use of resources. Resource depletion is most commonly used in reference to farming, fishing, mining, water usage, and the consumption of fossil fuels. Depletion of wildlife populations is called defaunation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Non-renewable resource</span> Class of natural resources

A non-renewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be readily replaced by natural means at a pace quick enough to keep up with consumption. An example is carbon-based fossil fuels. The original organic matter, with the aid of heat and pressure, becomes a fuel such as oil or gas. Earth minerals and metal ores, fossil fuels and groundwater in certain aquifers are all considered non-renewable resources, though individual elements are always conserved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable resource</span> Natural resource that is replenished relatively quickly

A renewable resource is a natural resource which will replenish to replace the portion depleted by usage and consumption, either through natural reproduction or other recurring processes in a finite amount of time in a human time scale. When the recovery rate of resources is unlikely to ever exceed a human time scale, these are called perpetual resources. Renewable resources are a part of Earth's natural environment and the largest components of its ecosphere. A positive life-cycle assessment is a key indicator of a resource's sustainability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy industry</span> Industries involved in the production and sale of energy

The energy industry is the totality of all of the industries involved in the production and sale of energy, including fuel extraction, manufacturing, refining and distribution. Modern society consumes large amounts of fuel, and the energy industry is a crucial part of the infrastructure and maintenance of society in almost all countries.

There are several classification systems for the economic evaluation of mineral deposits worldwide. The most commonly used schemes base on the International Reporting Template, developed by the CRIRSCO - Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards, like the Australian Joint Ore Reserves Committee - JORC Code 2012, the Pan-European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee' – PERC Reporting Standard from 2021, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum - CIM classification and the South African Code for the Reporting of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (SAMREC). A more detailed description of the historical development concerning reporting about mineral deposits can be found on the PERC web site.In 1997, the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) was development by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The Pan African Resource Reporting Code (PARC) is based on UNFC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy security</span> National security considerations of energy availability

Energy security is the association between national security and the availability of natural resources for energy consumption. Access to cheaper energy has become essential to the functioning of modern economies. However, the uneven distribution of energy supplies among countries has led to significant vulnerabilities. International energy relations have contributed to the globalization of the world leading to energy security and energy vulnerability at the same time.

Resource refers to all the materials available in our environment which are technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally sustainable and help us to satisfy our needs and wants. Resources can broadly be classified according to their availability as renewable or national and international resources. An item may become a resource with technology. The benefits of resource utilization may include increased wealth, proper functioning of a system, or enhanced well. From a human perspective, a regular resource is anything to satisfy human needs and wants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Africa</span>

The developing nations of Africa are popular locations for the application of renewable energy technology. Currently, many nations already have small-scale solar, wind, and geothermal devices in operation providing energy to urban and rural populations. These types of energy production are especially useful in remote locations because of the excessive cost of transporting electricity from large-scale power plants. The applications of renewable energy technology has the potential to alleviate many of the problems that face Africans every day, especially if done in a sustainable manner that prioritizes human rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainability measurement</span> Quantitative basis for the informed management of sustainability

Sustainability measurement is a set of frameworks or indicators used to measure how sustainable something is. This includes processes, products, services and businesses. Sustainability is difficult to quantify. It may even be impossible to measure as there is no fixed definition. To measure sustainability, frameworks and indicators consider environmental, social and economic domains. The metrics vary by use case and are still evolving. They include indicators, benchmarks and audits. They include sustainability standards and certification systems like Fairtrade and Organic. They also involve indices and accounting. They can include assessment, appraisal and other reporting systems. The metrics are used over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. For organizations, sustainability measures include corporate sustainability reporting and Triple Bottom Line accounting. For countries, they include estimates of the quality of sustainability governance or quality of life measures, or environmental assessments like the Environmental Sustainability Index and Environmental Performance Index. Some methods let us track sustainable development. These include the UN Human Development Index and ecological footprints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental impact of the energy industry</span>

The environmental impact of the energy industry is significant, as energy and natural resource consumption are closely related. Producing, transporting, or consuming energy all have an environmental impact. Energy has been harnessed by human beings for millennia. Initially it was with the use of fire for light, heat, cooking and for safety, and its use can be traced back at least 1.9 million years. In recent years there has been a trend towards the increased commercialization of various renewable energy sources. Scientific consensus on some of the main human activities that contribute to global warming are considered to be increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, causing a warming effect, global changes to land surface, such as deforestation, for a warming effect, increasing concentrations of aerosols, mainly for a cooling effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McKelvey diagram</span>

A McKelvey diagram or McKelvey box is a visual representation used to describe a natural resource such as a mineral or fossil fuel, based on the geologic certainty of its presence and its economic potential for recovery. The diagram is used to estimate the uncertainty and risk associated with availability of a natural resource. As geological assurance of a resource's occurrence decreases, risk increases. As economic recoverability of a resource decreases, risk also increases.

Despite its high potential for wind energy generation, wind power in Kenya currently contributes only about 16 percent of the country's total electrical power. However, its share in energy production is increasing. Kenya Vision 2030 aims to generate 2,036 MW of wind power by 2030. To accomplish this goal, Kenya is developing numerous wind power generation centers and continues to rely on the nation's three major wind farms: the Lake Turkana Wind Power Station, the Kipeto Wind Power Station, and the Ngong Hills Wind Farm. While these wind power stations are beneficial to help offset fossil fuel usage and increase overall energy supply reliability in Kenya, project developments have also negatively impacted some indigenous communities and the parts of the environment surrounding the wind farms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Kenya</span>

Most of Kenya's electricity is generated by renewable energy sources. Access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy is one of the 17 main goals of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Development of the energy sector is also critical to help Kenya achieve the goals in Kenya Vision 2030 to become a newly industrializing, middle-income country. With an installed power capacity of 2,819 MW, Kenya currently generates 826 MW hydroelectric power, 828 geothermal power, 749 MW thermal power, 331 MW wind power, and the rest from solar and biomass sources. Kenya is the largest geothermal energy producer in Africa and also has the largest wind farm on the continent. In March 2011, Kenya opened Africa's first carbon exchange to promote investments in renewable energy projects. Kenya has also been selected as a pilot country under the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programmes in Low Income Countries Programme to increase deployment of renewable energy solutions in low-income countries. Despite significant strides in renewable energy development, about a quarter of the Kenyan population still lacks access to electricity, necessitating policy changes to diversify the energy generation mix and promote public-private partnerships for financing renewable energy projects.

Since 2011 the European Commission has assessed every 3 years a list of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) for the EU economy within its Raw Materials Initiative. To date, 14 CRMs were identified in 2011, 20 in 2014, 27 in 2017 and 30 in 2020. These materials are mainly used in energy transition and digital technologies. Then in March 2023 Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the Critical Raw Materials Act, "for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the European Council establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials". At the time, Europe depended on China for 98% of its rare-earth needs, 97% of its lithium supply and 93% of its magnesium supply.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oil and gas reserves and resource quantification</span> Industry concept of crude oil and natural gas reserves and resources

Oil and gas reserves denote discovered quantities of crude oil and natural gas that can be profitably produced/recovered from an approved development. Oil and gas reserves tied to approved operational plans filed on the day of reserves reporting are also sensitive to fluctuating global market pricing. The remaining resource estimates are likely sub-commercial and may still be under appraisal with the potential to be technically recoverable once commercially established. Natural gas is frequently associated with oil directly and gas reserves are commonly quoted in barrels of oil equivalent (BOE). Consequently, both oil and gas reserves, as well as resource estimates, follow the same reporting guidelines, and are referred to collectively hereinafter as oil & gas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PERC Reporting Standard</span> European standard for mineral reporting

The PERCStandard for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves sets out the minimum standards, as well as additional guidelines and recommendations for the Public Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves within Europe.

The United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS) is a voluntary global standard for managing natural resources sustainably. It is based on the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC). UNRMS aims to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing a comprehensive framework and methodology for resource progression, policy development, and financing.

The Pan-African Resource Reporting Code (PARC) is a standardized framework for public reporting of African mineral and energy resources. Developed under the auspices of the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), PARC aims to enhance transparency, consistency, and competence in the certification and reporting processes within the African mining sector.

References

  1. ↑ "About UNFC and Sustainable Resource Management - Sustainable Energy - UNECE". www.unece.org. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  2. ↑ UNECE and responsible mining
  3. 1 2 "UNFC now fully applicable to uranium and thorium resources" . Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  4. ↑ McKelvey, V.E. Geological Survey Bulletin 1450-A: Principles of mineral resource classification system of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and U.S. Geological Survey. USGS.
  5. ↑ Geoscience Australia. "National Classification System for Identified Mineral Resources".
  6. ↑ "United Nations International Framework Classification for Reserves/Resources – Solid Fuels and Mineral Commodities of 1997 (UNFC-1997) - Sustainable Energy - UNECE". www.unece.org. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  7. ↑ UNECE. "United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Resources 2004 (UNFC-2004)".
  8. ↑ UNECE. "United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009".
  9. ↑ UNECE. "United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2019 Update".
  10. 1 2 "UNFC now operational: a new era for energy and mineral reserves reporting" . Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  11. ↑ "UNFC and Renewable Energy Resources - Sustainable Energy - UNECE". www.unece.org. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  12. ↑ "UNFC is now applicable to geothermal energy resources" . Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  13. ↑ "United Nations Framework Classification for Resources now applicable for bioenergy" . Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  14. ↑ "Globally-applicable geothermal reporting standard launched | Think GeoEnergy - Geothermal Energy News". www.thinkgeoenergy.com. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  15. ↑ "UNFC report with 14 case studies on classification of geothermal resources in 14 countries | Think GeoEnergy - Geothermal Energy News". www.thinkgeoenergy.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  16. ↑ "UNFC now applicable for storage of CO2" . Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  17. ↑ "UNFC and Anthropogenic Resources - Sustainable Energy - UNECE". www.unece.org. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  18. ↑ "UNFC is Key to Sustainable Development in India" . Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  19. ↑ "UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CLASSIFICATION -". ibm.nic.in. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  20. ↑ "Mexico to test the use of UNFC to manage the social and environmental aspects of petroleum projects" . Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  21. ↑ "Poland confirms its commitment to the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009" . Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  22. ↑ "The African Union Commission Calls for Mining Professionals and Experts to Develop African Mineral and Energy Resources Classification (AMREC) and Management System in line with the Africa Mining Vision Principle | African Union". au.int. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  23. ↑ "Work is advancing to develop UNFC-based comprehensive resource management system for Africa" . Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  24. ↑ "UNFC to support improved management of Africa's mineral and energy resources" . Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  25. ↑ "Work on the framing of minerals classification system in Africa begins". www.uneca.org. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  26. ↑ "Development of an African mineral resource classification system now underway". www.uneca.org. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  27. ↑ "EU Critical Raw Materials Act, now in force, stipulates application of UNFC and UNECE environmental treaties | UNECE". unece.org. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  28. ↑ "Understanding the European Commission's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA)". SLR Consulting. Retrieved 2024-06-19.

See also

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