India phasing out production, consumption of HCFC as per Montreal Protocol

New Delhi, Feb 26: India is phasing out production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons (HCFC) as per Montreal Protocol Schedule, which are aimed to regulate the production and use of chemicals that contribute to the depletion of Earth’s Ozone layer.

According to the Montreal Protocol Schedule, the baseline level is the average of production and consumption of HCFCs in 2009 and 2010, freeze at the baseline level in 2013, and successful reductions of 10 per cent, 35 pc, 67.5 pc in 2015, 2020 and 2025 respectively. There will be complete phase out at 2030 with a service tail of 2.5 per cent till 2040.
In HCFC Phase out Management Plan (HPMP), India has not only met the compliance obligations of the Montreal Protocol but exceeded the phase out targets through a series of policy measures, regulations,systematic technology conversions in the Industry, technical assistance and awareness generation, official sources said here.
The ongoing HPMP stage II would result in phasing out of 60 per cent of the HCFCs by January 1, 2023 against the target of 35 per cent phase out in 2020 and 65 pc phase-out in 2025.
Montreal Protocol, 'formally Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer', an international treaty, was adopted in Montreal on September 16, 1987. Initially signed by 46 countries, the treaty now has nearly 200 signatories. UNI