Decision 94/31

Following those consultations, during which it had been agreed to reduce, to 400 ODP tonnes, the 2027, 2028 and 2029 target in row 1.2 of Appendix 2-A of the Agreement between the country and the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee decided:

1. To approve, in principle, stage II of the HCFC phase-out management plan (HPMP) for Saudi Arabia for the period 2024–2030 for the complete phase-out of HCFC consumption, in the amount of US $18,036,768, consisting of US $11,537,233, plus agency support costs of US $807,606, for UNIDO and US $5,118,855, plus agency support costs of US $573,074, for UNEP, on the understanding that no more funding from the Multilateral Fund would be provided for the phase-out of HCFCs;
2. To note the commitment of the Government of Saudi Arabia to phase out HCFCs completely by 1 January 2030, and that HCFCs would not be imported after that date, except for those allowed for a servicing tail between 2030 and 2040, where required, consistent with the provisions of the Montreal Protocol;
3. To note also the commitment of the Government:
   1. To ban the import and manufacture of HCFC-based equipment by 1 January 2025;
   2. To exempt equipment imported into the country under stage II of the HPMP from levies, taxes and duties or to bear the cost of any such levies, taxes and duties;
4. To note further:
   1. That the implementation of stage II of the HPMP would result in the training and certification of at least 5,000 technicians;
   2. That the submission of the second tranche of stage II of the HPMP would be contingent on: the implementation of a ban on the import and manufacture of HCFC-based equipment; the development of policy and regulations for reclamation and the establishment of one reclamation centre; and the training and certification of at least 1,000 technicians;
   3. That the submission of the third tranche of stage II of the HPMP would be contingent on: the implementation of an e-registration system for certified technicians; the implementation of an e-registration system for servicing workshops; the development of a road map for a green procurement policy that required that only certified technicians should be allowed to service refrigeration and air‑conditioning equipment under government contracts; the training and certification of at least 3,000 technicians; and the reclamation of at least 20 metric tonnes of controlled substances;
5. To deduct 765.40 ODP tonnes of HCFCs from the remaining HCFC consumption eligible for funding;
6. To approve the Agreement between the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Executive Committee for the reduction in consumption of HCFCs, in accordance with stage II of the HPMP, contained in annex XXV to the present report;
7. That, to allow consideration of the final tranche of its HPMP, the Government of Saudi Arabia should submit:
   1. A detailed description of the regulatory and policy framework in place to implement measures to ensure that HCFC consumption was in compliance with paragraph 8 ter(e)(i) of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol for the period 2030–2040;
   2. If Saudi Arabia were intending to have consumption during the period 2030–2040, in line with paragraph 8 ter(e)(i) of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol, proposed modifications to its Agreement with the Executive Committee covering the period beyond 2030; and
8. To approve the first tranche of stage II of the HPMP for Saudi Arabia, and the corresponding tranche implementation plan, in the amount of US $6,455,955, consisting of US $4,357,084, plus agency support costs of US $304,995, for UNIDO and US $1,613,265, plus agency support costs of US $180,611, for UNEP.