Trafigura Group, a global leader in commodities, has announced a substantial $100 million expansion of its Brújula Verde carbon removal project in Colombia in partnership with GenZero, an investment platform owned by Singapore’s Temasek.
This project, located in the Orinoco River Basin in eastern Colombia, focuses on large-scale landscape restoration to produce high-integrity nature-based carbon removal credits by rehabilitating land degraded by agricultural activities and fires.
According to a joint statement by Trafigura and GenZero on Monday, the plan is to double the size of the initiative, which involves the planting of over 24 million mixed-species trees by local operational partner Inverbosques, one of the region’s largest private employers.
The project emphasizes ecological restoration without commercial harvesting, preserving Colombia’s biodiversity and benefiting local communities.
Matthew Nelson, Trafigura’s Head of Carbon Investments, said that GenZero’s partnership expands Brújula Verde’s environmental impact, creates local jobs, and establishes a model for high-quality, nature-based carbon removal credits.
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Hoon Ling Min, Director of Investments at GenZero, highlighted the project’s unique “restoration bridge” concept, which enhances soil health and promotes the gradual reintegration of native species, supporting high-quality carbon credits essential for credible carbon markets.
Between 2023 and 2024, the project has already planted 10,000 hectares and aims to add another 10,000.
Local job creation has been significant, with over 700 direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Infrastructure improvements, including nurseries and logistics, have strengthened the project’s operational capabilities.
Partners for Brújula Verde include specialists like Nature Metrics, which uses eDNA for biodiversity monitoring, and South Pole, experts in Carbon Asset Development.
The first carbon credits generated from the project are expected in late 2025, with a revenue-sharing model to support local social initiatives, reinforcing its commitment to environmental and community benefits.
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