Meetings and Major Decisions Relating to Montreal Protocol
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S.No. Meetings relating to the Important Decisions taken
Montreal Protocol held in Cairo
7-24 November, 1998
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1. VII Meeting of the Sub-Group on The Technical Audit Team presented their mid term progress report
Production Sector (November 9, 1998) to the members of the Sub-Group and a decision was taken that the
World Bank may visit all plants producing CFCs and prepare a
gradual closure project for India for submission to the Executive
Committee at its meeting in March 1999.
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2. 15th Project Review Sub-Committee The Sub-Committee approved 10 projects from India for US$ 1,392,052.
Meeting, Chaired by Shri Vinod These projects will, on completion, phase out 187.0 ODP tonnes.
Vaish, Special Secretary (E&F)
(November 9-10, 1998) Simplified methodology of determining the incremental operating cost
for compressors was finalised. It was decided to implement this
decision for one year, after which its impact could be assessed and
the issue brought again to the attention of the Executive Committee
for further guidance.
The issue of baseline equipment was discussed in the meeting and
it was decided that unavoidable technological upgradation was to
be taken into account in determining eligible incremental costs.
These guidelines would also be applied for a period of one year,
after which the issue could be brought again to the Executive
Committee for further guidance.
In respect of retrofit of commercial refrigeration equipment,
it was recommended that the Secretariat, in conjunction with the
World Bank, should prepare a paper on the circumstances under
which the Committee could consider the projects of Article 5
countries to retrofit commercial refrigeration appliances and
on how the incremental costs of such projects should be
calculated. This paper would be considered in the next meeting
of the Sub-Committee.
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3. 26th Executive Committee Meeting A draft proposal on eligibility of funding for projects of
(November 11-13, 1998) enterprises in agricultural sector, using ODS to produce
commodities for export by Sri Lanka as a member of the
delegation, was submitted for consideration. It was decided
that this would be an agenda item for discussion at the XXVII
Meeting of ExCom.
India has been elected as member and Vice-Chairman of the
Executive Committee for 1999.
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4. Technology Transfer Meeting The developed countries did not agree to the suggestions of
(November 18, 1998) the developing countries on practical ways to remove potential
impediments in technology transfer. Further discussion would
take place in the next meeting.
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5. Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) Replenishment of the Multilateral Fund
Chaired by Shri Vishwanath Anand,
Secretary, MOEF Terms of Reference for the next Replenishment of the Multilateral
(November 18-20, 1998) Fund 2000-2002 were discussed. It was decided that the TEAP
study should include several controlled substances that were
not included in the 1996 study and would employ more refined
models with more data, including sensitivity analysis, in order
to look at the impact on replenishment scenarios of differences
in the key parameters. The production sector would receive more
attention and the implications for replenishments in future
periods would be highlighted.
Process Agents
Some pharmaceutical, rubber and pesticide manufacturing industries
are using Carbon Tetrachloride, which is an Ozone Depleting
Substance as a process agent. Projects for phasing out could
not be submitted to the Executive Committee for financial
assistance, because there were no clear cut guidelines for
approval of these projects for the past three to four years.
This was caused by a deadlock situation between developing
countries, namely India, China, and developed countries (namely
USA and European countries). However, due to a strong
initiative taken by India during the Tenth Meeting of Parties,
a decision has been taken which would allow projects for
phase-out of Carbon Tetrachloride as process agent to be
considered for financial assistance. This decision will
facilitate many of our industries to avail of the financial
assistance to phase out approximately 4,000 metric tonnes of
Carbon Tetrachloride and help India in fulfilling its commitment
as per the schedule given in the Montreal Protocol.
Production Sector
It was recommended that the Executive Committee would be requested
to complete the task of formulation of guidelines for funding of
production sector expeditiously and on a priority basis and also
to further request the Executive Committee to facilitate the
formulation of projects for funding of CFC production sector and
their subsequent approval on a priority basis.
Metered Dose Inhalers (MDI)
Since the TEAP study has not been completed, no decision was taken
on this issue at this stage. It was decided that TEAP would furnish
a study specifically in relation to implications on the patient's
health and safety and affordability of the new technology in
developing countries.
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6. 10th Meeting of Parties Shri Suresh P Prabhu, Hon'ble Union Minister of Environment & Forests,
(November 23-24, 1998) made a statement during the Meeting. He emphasised that the Montreal
Protocol is a successful model of global environmental cooperation.
Highlighting India's commitment to the Protocol, he said that India
would be able to fulfill its commitment to the first freeze level of
July 01, 1999 in consumption and production sectors.
India has been elected as member and Vice-Chairman of the Executive
Committee for 1999.
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