This is the second year project of the two-year program. This project categorized into 6 tasks,
1. participating in the international meetings related to the Montreal Protocol as an NGO observer;
2. overviewing and assisting the Government to implement the ODS management measures following the national policy to compliance with the Montreal Protocol;
3. gathering and analyzing the alternative technologies to ODS on the global development and market availability;
4. studying the amounts and process of circulation for the existing equipment contained the substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol and developing the related management measures;
5. assisting the related government agencies in tackling ODS smuggling and developing the seized ODS destruction process;
6. strengthening the information dissemination and education on the issues relating to ozone layer protection.
Regarding to the participating in the Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and propagating our achievements, this project continuously keeps monitoring the global controlling measures on ozone depleting substances (ODS) and expresses Taiwan’s proactive participation of international environmental protection to our international friends. Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) participated in the 31st OEWG, Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in August and assisted the Taiwan EPA to participate in the 23rd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in November. The participants not only kept watching the development trend of the Montreal Protocol, Dr. Hui-Chen Chien, Deputy Director General, Department of Air Quality Protection and Noise Control, Taiwan EPA, as Head of the Taiwan Delegation but also successively met with representatives of a number of nations, accepted interview by the UNEP DTIE OzonAction Branch and briefed on Taiwan’s efforts in reduction of controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol. Aside from winning affirmation and acclaim of various circles, we had met with representatives and technological experts from various countries and forged mutual cooperation for environmental protection. We also expressed our active willingness in participating in the international convention in the future and jointly focused on environmental issues for protection of the ozone layer and relevant climatic change.
Furthermore, this project also assisted the Taiwan EPA in reporting the 2010 ODS consumption in Taiwan to the UNEP Ozone Secretariat for showing our resolution of compliance with the Montreal Protocol. The HCFCs consumption in 2010 in Taiwan was 152.56 ODP metric tons, accounting to 23.9% of the amount of the HCFCs reduction baseline 638.156 ODP metric tons, well controlled within the target controlled by the Montreal Protocol, 25%. The 2010 ODS consumption in Taiwan accounts to 4% of consumption, 3,974 ODP metric tons, from the developed nations worldwide (Non-Article 5 countries).
In the issue of ODS allocation, this project assisted the Taiwan EPA to finalize the domestic allocation process on Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) for year 2011 and the first half of 2012 as well as finalize statistical data on the amounts used by the manufacturers in 2010. A total of 55 use manufacturers and 10 suppliers successfully acquired HCFCs in 2011 for equipment production and maintenance purpose. This project also completed the preliminary allocation for 2012 for 56 use manufacturers and 10 suppliers regarding allocated import and use of HCFCs in the first half of 2012. Moreover, this project also analyzed the statistics of allocated manufacturers pursuant to the usage data of HCFCs in 2010 for reference by the EPA in planning the next stage of control schedule. Furthermore, 2011 also started to prohibit manufacturers refill HCFC-22 refrigerant for window-type air-conditioner under 7.1kw(including split air-conditioner). To safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of manufacturers, this project also conducted visits and auditing of manufacturers in collaboration with the Taiwan EPA in establishing an examination flow and confirming law-breaking incidents. In addition, this project also finalized the allocation on methyl bromide for the second half of 2011 and the first half of 2012 on the usage in the quarantine and pre-shipment treatment. Manufacturers and the Quarantine Bureau are allowed to acquire methyl bromide for timely fumigation in compliance with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to ensure quarantine safety of Taiwan and prevent import of goods with improper pests.
The work on the data accumulation and analysis on the current status of the global technology development on ODS alternatives in 2011 was focused on the testing and analyzing on methyl iodide, an alternative of methyl bromide, for the optimal concentration and time of fumigation as reference for promotion in the future. Meanwhile, this project also gathered the development information of the ODS alternatives in the international community as reference for feasibility analysis of the usage in Taiwan and the development of the promotion mechanisms in the future. This year (2011) we also particularly invited Ms. Marta Pizano, Co-Chair of TEAP (Technology and Economic Assessment Panel) and Dr. Melanie Miller, the premier consultant of the European Union, to Taiwan for knowledge and experience sharing on methyl bromide management strategy, as well as to publicize Taiwan’s efforts and establish exchange channels with experts in the future.
On investigation of ODS bank, this project conducted investigation on domestic freezing and refrigeration equipment, ODS foaming bank, and the domestic refrigerant and foaming agent recovery mechanism for estimating the domestic ODS bank. Moreover, this project also referenced the ODS bank control structure of Australia and Japan, studied and analyzed the current status of domestic legislation and finalize recommendations for management of the ODS bank in Taiwan in the future.
The works on providing assistance for tackling ODS smuggling and developing the destruction process were focused on the testing destruction in a rotary kiln incineration. This year (2011) we established the operation procedure in compliance with regulations in Taiwan and Montreal Protocol. These experiences could help the Custom for treating the seized 84 metric tons of ODS in the future. In addition, we also assisted the Coast Guard and the Customs units in educational training of seizure of ODS smuggling, provide the ODS seizure operational mode to enhance the capability of customs officials in handling ODS seizure in the future.
On publicity for protection of the ozone layer, this project completed two English publications in 2011, Ozone Layer Protection – Taiwan’s Contribution and Ozone Layer Protection – ODS Bank Management and Actions in Taiwan. The content of these two issues was stored on a USB for distribution to overseas friends participating in international conferences and foreign visitors. This year (2011) this project also edited and emailed two issues of the Chinese and English electronic newsletters of Ozone Layer Protection in Taiwan and irregularly updated the information website Ozone Layer Protection in Taiwan, and publicized to various circles via internet on the model and efforts of Taiwan in compliance with the Montreal Protocol.
