Air conditioner producers in Thailand to stop use of HCFC-22

BANGKOK, April 21 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Industry, has launched a project under which air conditioner producers in the country are encouraged to reduce and eventually stop the use of the hydrochlorofluorocarbon substance (HCFC-22), aimed to help relieve the problem of global warming or climate change. Thai Vice Industry Minister Pornchai Trakulwaranont on Thursday congratulated Japan-based Saijo Denki International Co., Ltd. for being the first air conditioner producer in the country to join the official initiative. Pornchai said participants in the project, initiated by his ministry's Department of Industrial Works in cooperation with the Government Savings Bank (GSB) and the US-based World Bank, are encouraged to replace the use of HCFC-22, which destroys ozone layers in the atmosphere with hydrofluorocarbon (HFC-32). Pornchai pointed out if all 10 air conditioner manufacturers in Thailand turned to use HFC-32, it would help reduce the use of substances that destroy the ozone layers in the country by over 46 ozone depleting potential (ODP) tonnes per year and would, thus, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 1.12 million carbon dioxide (CO2). According to the vice minister, Thailand, now the world's 2nd largest producer of air conditioners after China, at about 12 million units annually, and the world's largest importer of HCFCs, has targeted to gradually reduce and completely stop the use of HCFCs by 2030. (TNA)