Thailand to cut down use of ozone depleting substances

BANGKOK, Aug 29 (TNA) -- The Industrial Ministry will propose banning some Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone – depleting substances used in air-conditioning and polystyrene foam manufacturing. Director-General of the Industrial Work Department Mongkol Pruekwatana said the department will propose three draft notifications of the ministry to ban HCFC – 141 B and HCFC -22 in production of polystyrene foam and air conditioning equipment respectively. One of three notifications will include HCFC import guidelines to regulate and phase out the use of HCFC refrigerants under the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. If the draft is put into effect, manufacturers will adopt the use of substitutes, more friendly to the ozone layer. The department has approved financial and technological assistance to 20 industrial operators in air conditions and foam manufacturing with the budget of US$10 million. The grant came from the Ozone Projects Trust Fund of the Montreal Protocol, financed through the World Bank. It helps reduce emission of more than 1,000 metric tons of ozone depleting substances into the atmosphere. More assistance is being considered for over 80 operators. The project to reduce HCFC gases used in manufacturing processes should be complete by the end of this year. (TNA)