The 56th Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund was not only its final meeting of 2008 but also the final of the 2006-2008 triennium. High on the agenda was further work on the guidelines for costing of the accelerated phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) consumption and production in a number of sectors. The final report on the evaluation of institutional strengthening (IS) projects was also presented and had particular significance regarding future discussions on post-2010 funding of IS projects.

The Executive Committee approved 116 projects and activities for 65 countries amounting to US$57,347,247 plus US$9,956,600 support costs. Funding for HCFC phase-out management plan (HPMP) preparation was approved for 17 countries, including India, one project in Jordan for the preparation of a demonstration project for the conversion of HCFC to non-HCFC technology in the manufacturing sector and two projects (Brazil and Mexico) to optimize and validate the use of methyl formate as a replacement of HCFC-141b in foam applications. So far, the Executive Committee has approved funding for the preparation of HPMPs in 115 Article 5 countries.

Other projects approved at the 56th Meeting included new terminal phase-out management plans (TPMPs) for Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Suriname and Swaziland; tranches of TPMPs or CFC phase-out plans for 13 countries; projects for methyl bromide phase-out for seven countries including three new agreements and one revised agreement, renewal of IS projects in 25 countries plus one new IS project in Timor Leste; non-investment activities for metered-dose inhaler (MDI) transition strategies in Ghana, India, Indonesia and Pakistan; projects for the phase-out of CFC in the manufacture of MDIs in Argentina, China, Colombia, India and Pakistan. The Executive Committee also approved a bilateral proposal for international methyl bromide compliance workshop for all Article 5 countries.
Source: www.multilateralfund.org

The Multilateral Funds Executive Committee established the Regional Network for Pacific Island Countries (PICs) on 12 November 2008, through its Decision 56/33. This is the newest Regional Network established under the Multilateral Fund, and with its approval, all Article 5 countries now receive Regional Networking services provided by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Based on UNEP DTIE OzonActions Networking approach successfully employed for more than a decade in other regions but modified to take into account the special conditions of these small island developing states this Regional Network strengthens the capacity of National Ozone Units in the PIC region for compliance with the Montreal Protocol and sustained, permanent reduction in ozone depleting substances.

The Network covers 13 Article 5 countries in the Pacific: Cook Islands, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. It uses electronic tools including discussion forums, dedicated web sites, video conferencing (when practical) to share information and experiences throughout the year. Contact: Mr. Shaofeng Hu, Regional Network Co-ordinator, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (ROAP), UN Building, 2B Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. Tel: +66 (2) 288 1126; Fax: +66 (2) 280 3829; E-mail: hus@un.org.
Source: www.unep.fr

Pakistan has phased out the consumption of 91 per cent of ozone depleting substances (ODS) which is above the 85 per cent induction target fixed under the Montreal Protocol said Mr. Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Environment. We are successfully heading towards 100 per cent phase-out target of these ozone depleting substances by 1 January 2010, he added, while inaugurating a one-day international awareness and information workshop on transition strategy for phasing out chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)-metered dose inhalers (MDI).

Mr. Elahi said that CFC-MDIs issue is a matter of concern for Pakistan like other developing countries of the region. However, the prices of imported CFC-free MDIs are three time higher than the locally manufactured CFC-MDIs. He called upon the experts from the United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Development Programme and local pharmaceutical companies to facilitate the process of conversion to CFC-free technology so that asthma patients may avail affordable medication. He also urged the stakeholders and partner organizations to contribute their efforts for phasing out ozone depleting substances for the sake of the present and future generation.
Source: www.thenews.com.pk

A consultative meeting with stakeholders was held on 11 March 2009 in Kathmandu, Nepal. At this meeting, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme made detailed presentation on the content of HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) and the related data collection process. The key points relating to HPMP that emerged from the consultations were:

• HCFC users primarily are in domestic, building and industrial air-conditioning applications. Apart from HCFC-22, one large hotel in Kathmandu is operating a HCFC-123 based building air-conditioning system.
• While no HCFC use is reported in commercial applications, transport applications and use in reefer containers, this needs to be confirmed during field survey.
• Equipment using HCFC alternatives are already in use. They are mainly related to R-407c and R-410a, and are imported mainly from India, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and China. There is no reported use of HCFC blends.
• There is a large number of international brands used in different applications in Nepal. They are sold either through sole dealerships or through retail channel.
• Porous border with India and China is likely to pose a challenge in assessing HCFC demand. There was a general feeling that the demand of HCFC is constrained by the government order. The government released only 20 MT of HCFCs annually in the market in 2006 and 2007 against the limit of 23.04 MT specified in the order.

A National Environment Literacy Programme (NELP) is at the preparation stage at the Ministry of Environment and National Development Unit, said Minister Mr. Lormus Bundhoo at the launch of an ozone layer campaign at a local school. The aim of NELP is to sensitize and empower individuals from all walks of life, especially students, about their responsibility within their immediate and global environment. It is an operational framework within a systems approach, which aims to capture and add value to existing and future initiatives, the Minister added.
Source: www.gov.mu

Sri Lanka has implemented two projects for ceasing the consumption of methyl bromide (MeBr) in tea plantation sector and all other applications, excluding the Quarantine and Pre-shipment Sector (QPS) exempted by the Montreal Protocol. Through the two projects, Sri Lanka is expected to phase out MeBr usage in the country. MeBr consumption in QPS sector which comes under critical use has increased significantly for last few years. Therefore, the National Ozone Unit is making arrangements to justify MeBr consumption in QPS sector with relevant stakeholders and to make arrangement for reducing consumption in QPS as well.
Source: www.noulanka.lk

IUnder South-South co-operation initiatives, the Government of India will provide technical information support to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on chlorofluorocarbons-metered dose inhalers (CFC-MDI) phase-out implementation, with assistance from Cipla, India. Dr. Ebrahim Haji-zadeh, the National Ozone Officer of the Islamic Republic of Iran, had visited Cipla Ltd. and the National Ozone Cell of India. Taking Ciplas current technical and managerial position into account, especially from the viewpoint of technology transfer, one may conclude that the company has reduced the finished cost of its MDI manufacture by localizing the production technologies, taking the best advantage of the domestic expertise. Contact: Mr. Atul Bagai, Regional Co-ordinator (Networking), South Asia Network Compliance Assistance Programme -OzonAction, UNEP ROAP, UN Building, 2B Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. Tel: +66 (2) 288 1126; Fax: +66 (2) 280 3829; E-mail: bagai@un.org.
Source: www.unep.fr

The second phase of a training programme the National Train-the-Trainers Workshop on Good Practices in the Refrigeration Sector was held recently at Kuala Belait, Brunei Darussalam. The training programme was conducted under the Memorandum of Agreement between Brunei Darussalam and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) under the Montreal Protocol. The training was designed and targeted for the local technicians in the refrigeration sector to improve their technical knowledge and skills in the servicing procedures for refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. In the second phase of the training programme, the national trainers (the 16 technicians trained in the first phase) trained other refrigeration technicians from the public and private sector. The training is organized in a series throughout the year in line with the total phase-out of ODS by the end of 2009.
Source: www.brunei-online.com