23 November 2012
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China receives $73m grant to phase-out HCFCs
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CHINA: The World Bank has approved a grant of US$73m to help China meet its HCFC consumption and production phase-out obligations.
The money is coming from the Montreal Protocol Investment Fund to help China, seen as a developing, article 5 country, towards a complete phase-out of HCFCs by 2030.
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of HCFCs. In 2009, China produced more than 70% of the global HCFC supply and was responsible for more than half of the global HCFC consumed for manufacturing foam and refrigeration products, producing solvents, and servicing existing equipment.
'Phasing out of HCFCs presents opportunities for China not only in the redesign of its products to ozone-friendly technologies but also from the benefit of new available technology that is more energy efficient,' said Viraj Vithoontien, senior environmental specialist of the World Bank.
The World Bank has also approved a US$9.76m grant to help Vietnam with its HCFC phase-out commitments.
Vietnam consumes several types of HCFCs for various industrial applications, including R22 for refrigeration and air-conditioning manufacturing and for servicing existing equipment and appliances; HCFC141b for foam production; and, R123 for servicing cooling equipment.