Piloting the generation of electricity and carbon credits through gasification of Brazil nut shells and pods at Cobija Update 2017: The project has been finalised in 2015, all results were met, except for the amount of production and sales as the Bolivian Government did not allow the joint venture company Bio del Norte to deliver the generated electricity to the grid. Therefore, the projected impact has not yet been generated.Tahuamanu from Bolivia is the world's largest processor and exporter of Brazil nut. Thousands of collectors gather the nuts in the Amazon forest in the north of Bolivia for processing at the company's plant in Cobija. For years the empty shells have been stockpiled for lack of economic use. Tahuamanu has long searched for an affordable and reliable technological solution to generate electricity out of the biomass, which has a very high caloric value, to alleviate Cobija's increasing power shortage. It has identified Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies from India as its long-term partner to implement a biomass gasification system  ?  unique to Bolivia  ?  as a basis for power generation for delivery to ENDE, the public utility in charge of electricity transmission and distribution in Cobija. The pilot plant will generate 4,500 MWh per year, some 15% of Cobija's electricity demand during 2009. Moreover, owing to replacement of fossil fuel to produce electricity, the project's emission reductions should qualify under the Gold Standard of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).The project thus will lead to substantial fossil fuel savings. Fuel which is now transported for over 1,100 km and subsidised heavily. Also, the project will generate income for biomass collectors, who will be paid for gathering biomass. The increased power supply to Cobija will benefit the private and the public sector alike, thus contributing significantly to local development. Shortage of energy is seen as main impediment to economic development in many remote areas. The pilot is relevant to many areas in the Amazon region of Bolivia that is rich in biomass but too remote to be supplied through the main energy distribution network. It is anticipated that the pilot project will contribute to revision of national energy policies in favour of such projects, which the partners are planning to develop through follow-up investment.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The joint venture applies Tahuamanu's CSR standards. Tahuamanu has adopted the Global Compact of the United Nations which is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe project will create 12 direct jobs (including 2 high-level and 5 medium-level) to operate and maintain the plant. This should increase to 28 within two years after the pilot, when 2 to 3 new power plants are implemented.The joint venture will pay a monthly wage to its lowest level employee (Cleaner) which is 35% over the legal minimum wage. It will also pay additionally for overtime, vacations, years of employment and end-of-year bonuses, according to what is stated by the General Labour Law. The joint venture will pay a 'productivity bonus' twice a year to the employees according to a ranking scale.The fringe benefits provided by the joint venture to its personnel, will include:- two daily meals at 50% of cost price;- free breakfast for workers at duty at 6 a.m.;- free use of nursery school for children of staff under 5 years old;- health insurance and life insurance;- access to Tahuamanu's housing plan (easy finance coupled to direct payment deduction from salary).•	Innovation/Transfer of knowledgeThe gasification of biomass was complete new technology for Bolivia, and is not limited to nut shells and pods, but is also applicable to a large number of other available waste products from the wood industry (sawdust), agriculture (rice husks, corn cobs, sugar cane waste, etc). The technology allows a much more efficient use of the energy contained in this biomass.•	Chain effectsModerate chain effects on the income of the nut collectors are expected, as the joint venture will pay yearly for collected pods. This will not represent a high income, considering there are 500 collectors, but not all of them will engage in the pod collecting and it is additional income that can be realised outside the nut harvest season. They will earn an extra amount of money, which is substantial in Bolivia.•	EnvironmentThe environmental impact of the project is significant by virtue of the replacement of fossil fuel (1,350 tonnes of diesel annually), and thus the avoidance of GHG emissions equivalent to 4,235 tonnes CO2.The project will be certified according to the Gold Standard for Certified Emission Rights.Gold Standard carbon credits are the highest grade currently available and require that renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies also lead to sustainable development for the local community (such as increased standards of living, knowledge transfer, job creation or pollution reduction). All Gold Standard projects are rigorously tested for environmental quality by registered third parties. To implement a 700 kW power generation plant, fuelled with biogas generated by the gasification of nutshells, that result from the Brazil nut processing plant.