The Pre-Feasibility Methodology, empowers policymakers to embark on a step-by-step process, during which they can gather the necessary public data and to develop a 1st suite of corridors, all suitable for being further matured. At the end, a transparent and democratic process allows for a shortlist of possible green corridor projects to be moved into Feasibility. The methodology delineates the roles of the various stakeholders, thereby dividing a process that can otherwise seem overwhelming into steps that are easy to follow.
A methodology with seven steps
The MMMCZCS Pre-Feasibility Methodology is divided into seven steps across two phases: the Scoping Phase and the Study Phase. Each phase has a set of well-defined activities which will comprehensively evaluate the entire value chain, identify opportunities for green corridors, and ultimately provide a an option for commercial companies to shortlist green corridors.
In Pre-Feasibility, the methodology allows for a decision as to which corridors to move forward and which to be stopped.
This phase involves establishing a consortium of policy makers, governmental agencies, ministries, port authorities and NGOs among others; defining clear project goals; and outlining the scope of work. Given the importance of cultivating policy support, the pre-feasibility phase must engage policy makers. At the end of the phase, the members of the consortium have the option to formalize their consortium with a Letter of Intent (LOI). The scoping phase ideally includes an in-person workshop, in which the key areas in Step 1-3 are discussed and settled.
1. Consortium formation & goal definition
This involves forming the core consortium, , assigning the roles, setting up a project governance, and defining the project goals. By doing this, the members of the consortium can ensure that everyone has a shared understanding of what the project aims to achieve and who will undertake which works tasks as defined in the study part of the methodology. Since several of the members of the core consortium may not have worked together previously, this step minimizes the risk of different members being unable to coordinate their functions. This step is crucial as it forms the basis of the entire green corridor project.
Key question to address in this step
Who are the critical stakeholders who can ensure that the work during the pre-feasibility study is conducted and how will they work together?
The core consortium can customize the Pre-Feasibility Methodology and templates according to the outcome they are looking for and the characteristics of the area (region/country) where potential green corridors are being considered. This may include a limitation to a reduced selection of fuels and/or ports and/or vessel segments. The project plan needs to offer a transparent overview of workstream activities, meeting schedules, key deliverables, and deadlines. This step plays a vital role in laying the foundation for the operation of the Pre-Feasibility Study phase.
The last step in the scoping phase is to draft a Letter of Intent (LOI). This is not a legally binding document, but it does provide a joined document with detailed project description along with an outline of the terms, conditions, and responsibilities of each member of the core consortium. This step is optional, but this document makes it easier for everyone to understand the commitment required from them if they choose to continue to participate in the Pre-Feasibility Study phase, and it provides an option for a joined signing.
This part of the Pre-Feasibility phase assesses publicly available data collected by the respective Workstream Lead along the dimensions of energy, fuel(s), port(s) vessel segment(s) and cargo(s)/service(s), regulation, and just and equitable transition. The collected data are merged into the ‘data cube’, from which the 1st Suite of possible corridors are determined using selection criteria. Each step naturally progresses into the next and culminates in the creation of a shortlist of potential green corridors, called ‘1st Suite of Corridors’.
4. Study phase kick-off
The core consortium evaluates the area (region/country) according to the decarbonization vision for the area and potential constraints. This evaluation, performed as part of workstream 1 (WS1), is expected to result in a rationale that will support the pursuit of green corridors in the area. This overall ‘setting the scene’ is often a closely related to the Selection Criteria (Step 6).
This step constitutes the main part of a Pre-Feasibility Study, and comprises four workstreams (WS) running in parallel, as workstream leads map the data related to the value chain and assess the viability of potential green corridors by assessing the four dimensions: energy, fuel(s), port(s) vessel segment(s) and cargo(s)/service(s), regulation, and just and equitable transition
This is a crucial step as this is the stage in the process where the consortium defines the selection criteria to be used for generating the longlist of green corridors, referred to as the 1st Suite of corridors. There are two ways in which the consortium can generate selection criteria: one way is driven by a strategic interest in the area of interest, while the other is based on more generic terms (timing, emission, fuel types, etc.). By defining the selection criteria independent of the data collection in Step 5, the consortium makes the process of generating the 1st Suite of corridors transparent and unbiased, thereby ensuring that all the potential green corridors are evaluated along the same parameters. The process furthermore ensures that the data cube can be re-activated, should new criteria be developed after finalization of the study.
Purpose
Define and prioritize selection criteria for green corridors (might be related to vision and objectives).
This is when the consortium invites public and private stakeholders from the entire value chain, who may have an interest in any of the identified corridors or in the area of interest, to discuss the 1st Suite of corridors at the Consortium Incubation Workshop (CIW). In this transparent and democratic process, all stakeholders provide input on the proposed corridors. Those 1st Suite of corridors with most interest are shortened into a final list called 1st Wave corridors. In a second process, the participants of the CIW are asked for their commitment to work on one or more of the 1st Wave Corridors in a following Feasibility Study. The participants decide if the commitment is for a Sounding Board (10-20) hours, as a workstream support (50-200 hrs), or as workstream lead (250-800hours). If the Feasibility Study is to be done by an independent facilitator, this casting of commitment allows for an early assessment as to whether there is genuine interest in moving the specific corridor forward.
Assessing at this early stage whether a corridor has commitment from stakeholders or not improves the chances of these green corridors coming to fruition. It also gives an opportunity for the policy makers in the consortium to discuss with public and private stakeholders the ways in which they can be a part of the larger consortium that drives the Feasibility assessment of the specific corridor. Ultimately, this process supports the optimization of resource allocation by directing attention towards those green corridors where genuine stakeholder support and commitment exists.
The Feasibility Methodology is divided into six steps across two phases: the Scoping Phase (three steps) and the Study Phase (three steps). Each phase has a set of well-defined activities that will comprehensively scope the project, and evaluate its overall feasibility.
