Bahrain: renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/Ozl.Pro/ExCom/31/25)
Malawi: renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/Ozl.Pro/ExCom/31/25)
Namibia: renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/Ozl.Pro/ExCom/31/25)
Nicaragua: renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/Ozl.Pro/ExCom/31/25)
Panama: renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/Ozl.Pro/ExCom/31/25)
Seychelles: renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/Ozl.Pro/ExCom/31/25)
Having considered the recommendations of the Sub-Committee on Project Review (UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/31/21, paras. 23-25), the Executive Committee decided:
- To approve the above six project proposals at the level of funding indicated in annex V to the present report;
- To express the following views to the Governments of the countries concerned:
Bahrain
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Bahrain. The Executive Committee takes note of the fact that data provided to the Committee at its 31st meeting suggest that CFC consumption in Bahrain for 1999 was 4.2 per cent less than its compliance baseline. While, with projects already approved by the Fund, consumption would be further reduced, full implementation of already approved projects is not scheduled for completion until after the year 2000. The Executive Committee notes with appreciation the communication of Bahrain with UNEP that has indicated that Bahrain will be in a position to meet the CFC freeze. The Executive Committee also notes the fact that Bahrain has undertaken significant staff training designed to regulate imports of ozone-depleting substances and equipment using ozone-depleting substances, and has implemented a recycling effort that is resulting in the reuse of CFCs representing almost 7 per cent of national demand. Further, over the next two years, Bahrain intends to focus on the control and import of ozone-depleting substances. The Executive Committee expresses the importance it places on Bahrain’s meeting its first control obligation, and expresses the expectation that, over the coming months, Bahrain will move forward with enforcement of national regulations, and that its efforts to control imports of ozone-depleting substances and recycle CFCs will result in ensured and sustained compliance with the freeze provision of the Montreal Protocol.
Malawi
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Malawi. The Executive Committee takes note with appreciation of the fact that the most recent data available to the Secretariat suggest that Malawi will meet its freeze obligation under the Protocol, and, with the projects already approved by the Fund, appears to be making good progress toward meeting the 2005, 50 per cent reduction required by the Montreal Protocol. In its submission, Malawi reported on a number of important initiatives it has undertaken over the last few years, including the approval of regulations on management of ozone-depleting substances, enforcement of regulatory requirements including a ban on imports of equipment containing CFCs, and introduction of national import permits. These and other activities reported are very encouraging, and the Executive Committee greatly appreciates the efforts of Malawi. Over the next two years, Malawi intends to focus on a number of areas, including phasing out the use of methyl bromide in tobacco seedlings. The Executive Committee notes that the most recent data available to the Secretariat suggest that Malawi’s methyl bromide consumption may be up to 10 per cent over the compliance baseline. It is hoped that the methyl bromide workshop held in 1999 in Malawi has provided an important boost to the efforts to control methyl bromide consumption. The Executive Committee agrees with the desire of Malawi to prioritize methyl bromide work for the next two years, and looks forward to working with Malawi to help ensure compliance with the upcoming methyl bromide freeze.
Namibia
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Namibia. The Executive Committee takes note with appreciation of the fact that, since the signing of the Montreal Protocol, Namibia has reduced its national consumption by over one half. This is a significant achievement, and we congratulate Namibia for its efforts. However, the Executive Committee must express some concern that the most recent data available to the Secretariat suggest that Namibia is very close to the level of CFC consumption needed to ensure that it meets the upcoming freeze obligation. That said, the Executive Committee notes that with timely implementation of projects already approved by the Fund, it appears that Namibia can safely meet that requirement and take a first step towards meeting the 2005, 50 per cent reduction required by the Montreal Protocol. In its submission, Namibia noted that it has identified as a priority the development and adoption of legislation and a licensing system. The Executive Committee expresses the expectation that in the next two years, Namibia will be able to finalize the drafting and secure the adoption of the legislation and licensing system that it has determined to be a priority. These activities will surely help Namibia to ensure sustained compliance with the obligations of the Montreal Protocol.
Nicaragua
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Nicaragua. The Executive Committee takes note, with appreciation, of the fact that the most recent data available to the Secretariat suggest that Nicaragua will meet its freeze obligation under the Protocol and, with the projects already approved by the Fund, appears to be making good progress toward meeting the 2005, 50 per cent reduction required by the Montreal Protocol. In its submission, Nicaragua reported on a number of important initiatives it has undertaken over the last few years, including the implementation of a project for a refrigerant management plan, and the framing of legal measures to address the use of ozone-depleting substances on a sector basis. These and other activities reported are encouraging, and the Executive Committee greatly appreciates the efforts of Nicaragua. In its plan for the next two years, Nicaragua notes its intent to undertake a number of activities at the national level, including establishing appropriate legislation to control the consumption of ozone-depleting substances. The Executive Committee expresses the expectation that, during the two years covered by the institutional strengthening renewal, Nicaragua will move forward with its priority initiatives which are critical to helping ensure compliance with the Protocol’s reduction requirements.
Panama
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Panama. The Executive Committee takes note with appreciation of the fact that the most recent data available to the Secretariat suggest that Panama will meet its freeze obligation under the Protocol and, with the projects already approved by the Fund, appears to be making good progress toward meeting the 2005, 50 per cent reduction required by the Montreal Protocol. In its submission, Panama reported on a number of important initiatives it has undertaken over the last few years, including the establishment of a framework for regulations to control import of ozone-depleting substances and equipment based on ozone-depleting substances, implementation of legal measures including tax rebates for users of non-ozone-depleting substances, and developing systems to certify service technicians and ensure licensing of imports through Customs. These and other activities reported are encouraging, and the Executive Committee greatly appreciates the efforts of Panama. In its plan for the next two years, Panama expresses its intent to undertake a number of key activities including the implementation of regulations controlling the import of CFC using equipment. The Executive Committee expresses the expectation that during the two years covered by the institutional strengthening renewal Panama will move forward with these initiatives, as planned, as they are critical to helping ensure compliance with the Protocol’s reduction requirements.
Seychelles
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Seychelles. The Executive Committee takes note with appreciation of the fact that the most recent data available to the Secretariat suggest that Seychelles will meet its freeze obligation under the Protocol and, taking into account the significant national initiatives it has undertaken, it appears to be well positioned to ensure that it will meet the 2005, 50 per cent reduction required by the Montreal Protocol. In its submission, Seychelles reported on a number of important initiatives it has undertaken over the last few years, including preparing regulations on the import and disposal of ozone-depleting substances (to be enforced as of June 2000) and implementing a system to monitor sectoral use of ozone-depleting substances. These and other activities reported are encouraging, and the Executive Committee greatly appreciates the efforts of Seychelles. In the next two years, Seychelles intends to focus on implementation of these regulations. The Executive Committee expresses appreciation for the strong work of the Seychelles and expresses the expectation that during the two years covered by the institutional strengthening renewal, Seychelles will move forward with these initiatives, as planned, as they are critical to helping ensure compliance with the upcoming controls of the Montreal Protocol.