Adjusted water management for rice cultivation project

Vitol China Energy is invested in an Adjusted Water Management for Rice Cultivation project located in Chongqing, Southwestern China. The project covers a total land area of 18,909 hectares of single cropping rice. It is expected to reduce over 410,000 tCO2e of emissions over the project lifetime of 7 years between 2018 and 2025.

The project facilitates the transition from continuous to intermittent flooding as a method of rice cultivation in paddy fields. Continuous flooding encourages anaerobic decomposition in the soil, releasing methane into the atmosphere. With over 80 times the global warming potential of CO2, methane is a significant contributor towards global warming. Transitioning to intermittent flooding practices not only reduces methane emissions but also reduces agricultural water and energy usage.

Intermittent flooding also increases rice yields by 15%, providing greater food security for the local community and enabling growth of the local economy. As part of the project, the local community is provided with training on intermittent flooding practices with over 45,000 farmers potentially benefitting from the increased employment opportunities that brings.

The project produces high quality carbon credits and is registered with Verra. The outcomes are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development goals: 2 Zero Hunger, 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth and 13 Climate Action.