Comoros: Renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25 and UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25/Corr.1)
Congo: Renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25 and UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25/Corr.1)
El Salvador: Renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25 and UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25/Corr.1)
Gabon: Renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25 and UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25/Corr.1)
Georgia: Renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25 and UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25/Corr.1)
Honduras: Renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25 and UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25/Corr.1)
Korea, DPR: Renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25 and UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25/Corr.1)
Paraguay: Renewal of institutional strengthening (UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25 and UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/25/Corr.1)
Having considered the recommendations of the Sub-Committee on Project Review (UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/21, para. 41), the Executive Committee decided:
(a) To approve the above projects at the level of funding indicated in Annex VIII to the present report;
(b) To express the following views to the Governments concerned:
Comoros
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Comoros. The Executive Committee takes note with appreciation of the fact that 1999 CFC consumption reported to the Ozone Secretariat is the same as the 1995-1997 compliance baseline, and that Comoros appears to be able to comply with the CFC consumption freeze. It its submission, Comoros reported on a number of important initiatives it has prepared during its initial institutional strengthening project, including: training for refrigeration technicians and customs officers, formulation of a recovery and recycling programme, fixing a quota for imports of ODS, and establishing a mechanism (and a related presidential decree) to control imports of ODS-containing equipment. These and other activities reported are very encouraging, and the Executive Committee greatly appreciates the efforts of Comoros. Over the next two years, Comoros intends to focus on implementation of the regulatory infrastructure it has prepared, including issuance of import quotas and licensing on ODS, further implementation of the RMP, ratification of the presidential decrees on imports of ODS equipment, and annual reporting to the Fund and Ozone Secretariats. The Executive Committee expresses the expectation that in the next two years, Comoros will have fully implemented their system to limit imports to levels no higher than those allowed under the Protocol, and to ban the import of CFC-bearing equipment, which is so critical to ensuring an effective phase-out.
Congo
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Congo. The Executive Committee takes note with appreciation of the fact that 1999 CFC consumption reported to the Ozone Secretariat is some 20 per cent below the 1995-1997 compliance baseline, and that Congo appears to be able to comply with the CFC consumption freeze and be well on its way to meeting the 50 per cent reduction required in 2005. In its submission, Congo reported on a number of important initiatives it has undertaken during its initial institutional strengthening project, including: setting up legislation and an administrative decree to restrict the import of ODS, undertaking training for refrigeration technicians, implementing a recovery and recycling programme, and preparing a draft decree on imports of ODS-based equipment. These and other activities reported are very encouraging, and the Executive Committee greatly appreciates the efforts of Congo. Over the next two years, Congo intends to focus on putting in place legislation and a quota system on importation of ODS, training for customs agents, setting up a national committee on ozone and continued training programmes. The Executive Committee expresses the expectation that in the next two years, Congo will have fully implemented their system to limited imports to levels no higher than those allowed under the Protocol, and to ban the import of CFC-bearing equipment, which is so critical to ensuring an effective phase-out.
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Executive Committee takes note with great appreciation of the fact that 1999 CFC consumption reported to the Ozone Secretariat is some 75 per cent below the 1995-1997 compliance baseline, and that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea appears to have fully complied with the CFC consumption freeze as well as attaining the 50 per cent CFC reduction required in 2005 and may well be on its way to meeting the 85 per cent reduction required in 2007. In its submission, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea reported on a number of initiatives it has undertaken during its initial institutional strengthening project, including: data collection, training and dissemination of information. These and other activities reported are encouraging, and the Executive Committee greatly appreciates the strong efforts of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to reduce their consumption of CFCs. Over the next two years, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea intends to focus on developing and implementing an RMP, closure of its CFC production plants, and preparation of further projects. The Executive Committee expresses the expectation that, in the next two years, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will establish a licensing system and related regulations to control the import of ODS and ODS-containing products. These policies are critical to ensuring that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea can continue with its outstanding progress, and sustain and build upon its current levels of reductions in CFCs.
El Salvador
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for El Salvador. The Executive Committee takes note with great appreciation of the fact that 1999 CFC consumption reported to the Ozone Secretariat is some 60 per cent below the 1995-1997 compliance baseline, and that El Salvador appears to have been able to fully comply with the CFC consumption freeze as well as the 50 per cent reduction required in 2005 and may well be on its way to meeting the 85 per cent reduction required in 2007. In its submission, El Salvador reported on a number of important initiatives it has undertaken during its initial institutional strengthening project, including: setting up rules and regulations to control the import of ODS, and coordination of training for refrigeration technicians, including recovery and recycling programmes. These and other activities reported are encouraging, and the Executive Committee greatly appreciates the strong efforts of El Salvador to reduce their consumption of CFCs. Over the next two years, El Salvador intends to focus on implementing and enforcing their regulatory system to control imports of ODS, to continue training for customs agents, and to monitor the projects currently under implementation. The Executive Committee expresses the expectation that, in the next two years, El Salvador will continue with its outstanding progress, and will sustain and build upon its current levels of reductions in CFCs.
Gabon
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Gabon. The Executive Committee takes note with appreciation of the fact that Gabon reported 1999 CFC consumption to the Ozone Secretariat that is below its 1995-1997 compliance baseline, and that Gabon will be well on its way to achieving the 50 per cent and 85 per cent reduction steps required in 2005 and 2007. In its submission, Gabon reported on a number of important initiatives it has undertaken during its initial institutional strengthening project, including: preparation of an RMP project, including training for customs officers and refrigeration technicians, elaboration of legislation and regulations related to ODS and ODS-based equipment, and establishment of a database on imports. These and other activities reported are encouraging, and the Executive Committee greatly appreciates the efforts of Gabon to reduce their consumption of CFCs. Over the next two years, Gabon intends to focus on adoption and promulgation of legislation, and begin training and implementation of RMP-related activities. The Executive Committee expresses the expectation that in the next two years, Gabon will have fully implemented their system to limit imports to levels no higher than those allowed under the Protocol, and to ban the import of CFC-bearing equipment, which is so critical to ensuring an effective phase-out. It is these activities that will help ensure the attainment of their stated goal of successive reductions in ODS consumption to reach a total elimination of ODS in accordance with the established schedule.
Georgia
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Georgia, and notes that Georgia has taken some significant steps to phase out its consumption of ODS in the period covered by their initial institutional strengthening project. Specifically, in its submission, Georgia reports that it has undertaken a number of important initiatives, including: monitoring and implementation of an RMP project including training for refrigeration technicians, negotiating with relevant authorities in preparation of regulations on ODS, and supervision of a recovery and recycling programme. These and other activities reported are encouraging, and the Executive Committee greatly appreciates the efforts of Georgia. In particular, the Executive Committee appreciates the commitment of Georgia to the Montreal Protocol, and their intent, over the next two years, to ensure their compliance with the upcoming control provisions of the Protocol through the introduction of import quotas. The Executive Committee expresses the expectation that, in the next two years, Georgia will have fully implemented their system to limit imports to levels no higher than those allowed under the Protocol, and to ban the import of CFC-using equipment, which is so critical to ensuring an effective phase-out. It is these activities that will help ensure the attainment of their stated goal to ensure compliance with the Protocol.
Honduras
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Honduras. The Executive Committee takes note with appreciation of the fact that Honduras reported 1999 CFC consumption to the Ozone Secretariat that is slightly higher than its 1995-1997 CFC compliance baseline, and that Honduras appears to be able to comply with the CFC consumption freeze. That being said, the Executive Committee is concerned that Honduras’ reported methyl bromide consumption is higher than its reported consumption in 1998, putting in jeopardy its ability to meet the upcoming freeze in methyl bromide required by the Copenhagen Amendment. In its submission, Honduras reported on a number of important initiatives it has undertaken during its initial institutional strengthening project to meet its CFC reduction obligations, including the introduction of an ODS licensing and registration system, and elaboration of legislation and regulations to control the import and use of ODS (currently under review). It also reported development of an inventory on consumption of methyl bromide. These and other activities reported are encouraging, particularly as they relate to CFC consumption, and the Executive Committee greatly appreciates the efforts of Honduras to reduce their consumption of CFCs. Over the next two years, Honduras intends to focus on implementation of sub-projects related to the RMP to ensure that it meets the 50 per cent reduction requirement in 2005, and implementation of a methyl bromide phase-out project. The Executive Committee expresses the expectation that in the next two years, Honduras will have fully implemented their system to limit imports to levels no higher than those allowed under the Protocol, and to ban the import of CFC-bearing equipment, which is so critical to ensuring an effective phase-out. It is these activities that will help ensure the attainment of their stated goal– successive reductions in ODS consumption to reach the 50 per cent reduction required in 2005, and the 85 per cent reduction required in 2007.
Paraguay
The Executive Committee has reviewed the information presented with the institutional strengthening renewal request for Paraguay. The Executive Committee expresses serious concerns that Paraguay has reported 1999 CFC consumption to the Ozone Secretariat that is almost triple its 1995-1997 compliance baseline and that, as a consequence, Paraguay may have serious difficulty complying with the CFC consumption freeze. This is occurring despite the fact that the Executive Committee has approved over $600,000 in projects for Paraguay, a country that just two years ago reported 96 tonnes of consumption. Despite these serious concerns, the Executive Committee does understand that Paraguay has taken some significant steps in the period covered by their initial institutional strengthening project. Specifically, it has enacted laws to promote the mechanism to restrict imports of ODS, and has issued a decree that will impose an import cap on CFC-12. Further, it has prepared an RMP for submission to this meeting of the Executive Committee, and it has implemented initial investment projects in the foam sector. In its plan for the next two years, Paraguay intends to advance with RMP implementation activities and to freeze methyl bromide consumption. While these and other activities proposed for the future are encouraging, the Executive Committee expresses the expectation that in the two years covered by this project, Paraguay will have fully implemented a system to license and restrict imports of all CFCs to levels needed to ensure compliance with the Protocol freeze. Paraguay must also consider banning the import of CFC-bearing equipment, which is so critical to ensuring an effective, sustainable phase-out. It is these activities that will ensure the attainment of their goal to ensure compliance with the Protocol.