United Nations Framework Classification for Resources

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.

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]

References

  1. ^ "About UNFC and Sustainable Resource Management - Sustainable Energy - UNECE". www.unece.org. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  2. ^ UNECE and responsible mining
  3. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. 6 October 2016. 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. 7 December 2017. 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