INDIAN INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE ON

PHASE DOWN OF HFCS

REFRIGERANT GAS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (REGMA)

INDO-US WORKSHOP ON HFCs

18th February, 2011

Industry Overview Compliance with Montreal Protocol Issues faced by Indian Industry HCFC Phase out – The Challenges HFC Phase-Down Proposal- The Concerns Conclusion & Way Forward

Contents:

Industry Overview

Fluorocarbon refrigerants being produced in India since last 45 years

India has 5 HCFC-22 plants All HCFC-22run by public limited, listed

companies All 5 plants plants have CDM registered projects

for incineration of HFC-23 No HFC-23 emissions – all HFC-23 emissions in

India being destroyed under the Kyoto Protocol of the UNFCCC

Presently one HFC-134a production facility operational

Compliance with Montreal Protocol

Indian production sector has been proactive in ODS phase-out – complied with all international obligations – and more

Halon production phased out much ahead of schedule – first Halon facility closed down globally was Indian

CTC production phased out as per international commitments

CFC production phased out ahead of schedule HCFC production capacity for emissive use frozen since

2000 – the only A5 Party to do so

Issues faced by Indian industry

Technology transfer for production sector not available though promised under Montreal Protocol

Compensation for phase-out not in accordance with economic and technical assessments – fell short of “incremental costs”

Delay in receipt of compensation

HCFC phase-out – the challenges

In 2007, HCFC-22 phase-out and accelerated phase-out schedule was agreed upon, based on HFCs being readily available as viable substitutes

Therefore, present proposal for HFC phase-down challenges the core assumption behind accelerated HCFC-22 phase-out

Lack of clarity on other (non-HFC) substitutes for HCFC-22

Contd…

HCFC phase-out – the challenges

Funding mechanism for accelerated phase-out of HCFC production sector still not in place – pending for more than 3 years

Concerns about funding not being based on technological and economic assessments

HFC phase-down proposal – the concerns

HFCs are greenhouse gases, not ozone depleting substances

Low GWP substitutes not available for most applications

Some low GWP substitutes are in early developmental stage – concerns about cost, technology, long term reliability, flammability, etc

A robust and legally binding technology transfer mechanism needs to be built

Contd…

HFC phase-down proposal – the concerns

Funding mechanism and guidelines need to be pronounced clearly and transparently – to be based on technical and economic assessments

All HFC-23 emissions in India already being destroyed under the Kyoto Protocol of the UNFCCC

Possibility of two changeovers in a short span of time – associated costs and production disruptions – not affordable by a country like India

Conclusions – and way forward

Detailed studies required on HFCs Legal issues – whether HFC phase-down can be considered

under the Montreal Protocol Technical issues - assess and evaluate long term low GWP

substitutes for all applications Economic issues - assess costs associated with multiple change-

over

Stipulate clear and transparent guidelines for funding mechanism, based on technical and economic assessments

Create a robust and legally binding mechanism for technology transfer – latest technology should be available well in time, funded under a suitable funding mechanism

Contd…

Conclusions – and way forward

Provide sufficient time lag between developed and developing countries for baseline and phase-down

Phase-down to be paced out with availability of technology and finance

All HFC-23 emissions in India are already being controlled under the Kyoto Protocol of the UNFCCC

Contd…

Conclusions – and way forward

Suggested way forward

Continue interaction at Industry and Government levels to deliberate on the key issues to work out a suitable framework and timeline for phase down of HFCs

Thank You