akar.earthSRUK vs the Verra Registry
SRUK vs the Verra Registry: what each records, legal status, unit types, interoperability and how Indonesian carbon projects handle both registries in 2026.
SRUK is Indonesia’s state registry for carbon units, required for units traded on IDXCarbon and central to how the government tracks national emission accounts. The Verra Registry is a private registry that records Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) issued under Verra’s programs for the global voluntary market. An Indonesian project selling internationally usually deals with Verra’s registry for the credits and with SRUK (and Indonesian authorisation) for the domestic record, so the real question is how to keep the two consistent.
Side-by-side comparison
| Attribute | SRUK | Verra Registry |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | Indonesian government (environment ministry) | Verra, a non-profit standard setter |
| Legal basis | Perpres 110/2025; Permen LH/BPLH 10/2026 (reported effective 6 July 2026) | Verra program rules (VCS Standard v5.0 issued December 2025, v4.7 active until 1 July 2027) |
| Predecessor | SRN-PPI (for exchange-traded units) | Earlier Verra registry platforms |
| Unit types | SPE-GRK, PTBAE-PU and other domestic carbon units | VCUs, plus labels such as CCB |
| Function | Records issuance, transfer, use and cancellation; not a marketplace | Records issuance, transfer, retirement and cancellation; not a marketplace |
| Link to trading | Mandatory for units traded on IDXCarbon | Used by brokers, platforms and buyers worldwide |
| National accounting | Feeds Indonesia’s NDC and emissions tracking | Independent of national inventories |
| Article 6 role | Government-side tracking of authorised transfers | Can tag credits with host-country authorisation information |
| Scale | Launched July 2026 | 1.3 billion+ VCUs issued across 2,579+ projects globally |
| Who can open accounts | Indonesian and permitted foreign participants under domestic rules | Account holders worldwide, subject to KYC |
Key differences
Public versus private. SRUK is the state’s record. It exists because the government must track carbon units against its NDC and its FOLU Net Sink 2030 target. The Verra Registry exists to give buyers confidence that each VCU is unique, issued under Verra’s rules and retired only once.
What each replaced. SRUK took over the registry function that SRN-PPI performed for traded units. SRN-PPI remains relevant for broader climate-action information. Read the regulation timeline for sequencing.
Interoperability. The waste-sector rule (Permen LH/BPLH 11/2026) states that where data interoperability with an international standard is not yet available, self-recording through SRUK applies. That signals interoperability is planned but not complete. Expect manual reconciliation for now.
Double counting. With two registries, the same tonne could be claimed twice: once in an international retirement and once in national accounts or a domestic sale. Avoiding this needs clear authorisation, consistent serial references and, for international transfers under Article 6, corresponding adjustments. See the glossary on double counting.
When each fits in Indonesia and Southeast Asia
- Selling on IDXCarbon: SRUK recording is mandatory. Verra registration alone does not qualify a unit.
- Selling VCUs to international buyers: the Verra Registry carries the credit. Check Indonesian rules on recording, authorisation and benefit-sharing, especially for forestry projects under Permenhut 6/2026.
- Article 6 transfers: both matter. The government authorises; the registry tags; national accounts adjust.
- Other SEA countries run their own national registries with different links to international programs, so do not assume Indonesia’s model applies elsewhere.
Cost and effort considerations
We do not quote fees. The main effort lies in:
- Data reconciliation. Project boundaries, vintages, monitoring periods and serial numbers must match across both systems. A single clean project dataset helps; our dMRV implementation work is built around that.
- Legal mapping. Which ministry approvals are needed before issuance or transfer differs by sector and has changed several times since 2021. Our regulatory navigation service tracks this.
- Timing. Domestic recording can add steps between verification and sale. Build this into offtake delivery schedules.
Questions to ask before you register
- Will any units trade on IDXCarbon? If yes, plan SRUK recording from the start, not after verification.
- Which ministry approvals apply to your sector? Forestry, waste and energy each follow their own implementing rules under Perpres 110/2025.
- How will serial numbers be cross-referenced? Decide how VCU serials and domestic records link, and who maintains that mapping.
- Who owns the carbon rights? Ownership under Indonesian law must be clear before units appear in either registry; see carbon ownership.
Common misconceptions
- “SRUK is where you sell carbon.” It is a registry. Trading happens on IDXCarbon or through direct trades. See IDXCarbon vs international registries.
- “Verra registration makes a project legal in Indonesia.” It does not. Domestic permits and rules apply independently.
- “SRN-PPI and SRUK are the same thing.” SRUK replaced SRN-PPI’s function for exchange-traded units; they are distinct systems.
- “Once interoperability exists, nothing else is needed.” Data links help, but authorisation and accounting decisions remain policy choices.
More in the Indonesia regulation hub and the registry glossary entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is SRUK?
SRUK (Sistem Registri Unit Karbon) is Indonesia's carbon unit registry. It records units from issuance through transfer to use or cancellation, and it replaced SRN-PPI as the registry for units traded on the carbon exchange. It is not a trading platform.
When did SRUK start?
Secondary sources report that Permen LH/BPLH 10/2026 on SRUK took effect on 6 July 2026 and that the government launched SRUK on 9 July 2026. Confirm against the official regulation text.
Do Indonesian projects on the Verra Registry need to record in SRUK?
Indonesian rules require carbon units traded on the exchange to be recorded in SRUK, and the waste-sector rule integrates transactions with SRUK. For forestry projects selling internationally, check Permenhut 6/2026 and current guidance on how international units are recorded.
Does the Verra Registry handle corresponding adjustments?
No. Corresponding adjustments are made by governments in their national accounting. The Verra Registry can tag credits with authorisation and adjustment information supplied by host countries.