OVERALL OBJECTIVE
The overall objective of a Refrigerant Management Plan (RMP) is to develop and plan a strategy that will manage the use and phase-out of virgin CFC refrigerants for servicing refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
PRINCIPLES AND STEPS IN FORMULATING RMP
The necessity to develop and implement a RMP originates from the need to resolve the many complex and interrelated issues defined above so as to eliminate the use of ODS refrigerants.
The RMP is a critical management tool for LVCs for a smooth transition to non-ODS refrigerants and includes strategy elements such as containment, recovery and recycling, retrofits and provision for the critical stocks for the 'service tail' through internal conservation techniques. The RMP will contribute to the country’s phase-out of ODS by identifying all the activities required, describing all the Government measures that will be necessary to ensure the success of projects and planning how all these activities will be implemented over time.
Undertake country-specific review and analysis of:
Characterize the relative importance of sub-sectors on the basis of:
Assess the available and feasible options, including:
Evaluate alternative options for:
Formulate a refrigerant management policy (which will include all or some of the following elements, in accordance with country -specific needs):
While developing the RMP, it must be recognized that implementation of all the components should be timed to complement one another so as to ensure maximum impact on ODS phase-out in accordance with national phase-out time-schedules and obligations under the Montreal Protocol.
The elements and activities proposed for an RMP, whether they are to be funded by the Multilateral Fund or the country itself, should reflect the country’s particular circumstances and address all relevant sectors including the informal sector. They should be sufficient to ensure fulfillment of the countries’ control obligations at least up to and including the 85% reduction in 2007, and should include mechanisms for reporting progress.
GUIDELINES FOR FORMULATION OF RMP
Step 1: Setting up the coordinating team
The establishment of a Coordinating Team will ensure the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the development of the RMP and will facilitate the flow of information from different sectors and provide feedback and inputs into the phase-out strategy.
In both cases, the Coordinating Team could be enhanced with representation from typical stakeholders in accordance with their sectoral and economic importance (examples of some of the stakeholders who could be part of the Coordinating Team are provided below).
Ministerial representation: Agriculture and Fisheries; Tourism; Industry and Commerce; Customs; Economic Planning; Transport; Defense; Environment; etc.
Industrial, Institutional and other representation: Professional federations for the different economic sectors (refrigeration, fishing, slaughterhouses, tourism, etc.); chambers of commerce and industry; large supermarket chains; training organizations; importers and distributors of ODS refrigerants; refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians, etc.
Responsibility for data collection
Sectors to be covered
It is important that the reliable data is collected as it will be analyzed to determine major trends in the national consumption patterns and to define a phase-out strategy. Data must be collected from government departments and importers, distributors and final users.
Structure of sector phase-out strategy
The strategy for phase-out should clearly indicate the commitment of government and other economic actors to eliminate the use of ODS refrigerants in accordance with a definite phase-out schedule and timetable. The elements listed below include all the possible components – however the phase-out strategy in each individual RMP should be formulated in accordance with country-specific needs and requirements:
Economic instruments:
controlling and monitoring ODS imports and ODS-containing equipment
economic incentives for recovery and recycling and for promoting the use and consumption of non-ODS refrigerants
Institutional arrangements:
Based on the data and country-specific evaluation, the RMP will be developed and should include the following elements:
(a) assessment of use of and ODS and ODS using refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment
(b) assessment of potential impact of and need for increased public awareness and established policy instruments to meet the obligations of the Montreal Protocol
(c) basic refrigerant management policy, including objectives, national strategy, activities and time-table.
(d) specific plan for improving operations and maintenance practices
(e) specific plan for establishing and enforcing refrigerant containment practices (usually a code of good practices, certification scheme, etc.).
(f) specific plan for implementing refrigerant recovery, recycling and reclamation
(g) specific plan for establishing and enforcing related policy for equipment procurement
(h) specific plan for establishing supporting legislation/regulation and awareness raising campaigns
All specific activities will be accompanied by time schedules and appropriate measurable ODS phase-out targets.
GUIDELINES FOR CONSULTANT
(a) study the country programme and review the current situation
(b) assess current consumption, trends in the industry, economic growth and trends, impact of market forces, existing legislation, trade flows, etc.
(c) assess need for establishment of new regulations and legislation, modification of existing ones and the costs involved
(d) determine what actions have been taken at a national level to raise awareness and their impact
(e) determine whether training programmes have been conducted, and assess their impact
(f) estimate number of technicians in organized and informal sector and determine the scope of a training programme for refrigerant technicians
(g) assess the need, commitment and cost for establishment of certification programmes
(h) evaluate the benefits and costs of an awareness programme aimed at the technicians in the informal sector
(i) assess need and costs of training programme for customs officials
(j) determine feasibility and necessity for a recovery and recycling project
(k) determine feasibility and necessity for retrofitting and conversion
(l) draw up the phase-out strategy in close consultation with national stakeholders
(m) define specific projects and costs involved for phase-out in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector
(n) formulate the RMP, including time-schedule for each activity, total cost and mechanism for coordination of activities
if the country programme is under formulation, the consultant will work in close consultation with the Ozone Focal Point and the Coordinating Team to collect the required data and follow the above steps
if the country programme is under formulation, the Ozone Focal Point and the National Team and/or the Coordinating Team will have the responsibility for the monitoring of the development of the RMP and coordination with other coordinating groups, with the Implementing Agencies and the consultant
if the country programme has already been approved, the NOU and the Coordinating Team will be responsible for this activity
The Coordinating Team will have the responsibility of ensuring that the RMP is approved by all relevant stakeholders, before submission to the Executive Committee, with a signed Transmittal Letter from the Government and for implementing the RMP, when approved by the Executive Committee.
1. Country situation
1.1 Status of the country with regard the Montreal Protocol: Provide a brief summary of status of ratification of the different treaties (Montreal Protocol, Vienna Convention, London Amendment, Copenhagen Amendment).
1.2 Status of country programme: Has the country programme been prepared:
if yes:
- attach the Action Plan
- indicate whether proposed phase-out schedule has been met. If not, specify why not and indicate difference between the forecast and the real situation with regard to consumption of ODS refrigerants
- indicate whether data is reliable and updated
- indicate current Institutional framework established for the implementation of the country programme
if no:
- define status of country programme preparation
- proposed time-frame for completion
Status of institutional strengthening project: Does the NOU exist:
if yes:
- indicate progress made with project implementation
- indicate progress of Country programme implementation
- specify any difficulties encountered
1.4 Current situation: Define the pattern, level and structure of ODS consumed in each sector, under the following headings:
(i) domestic refrigeration and air conditioning
(iii) industrial refrigeration and air conditioning
(iv) automobile air conditioning
For each of these sectors and sub-sectors, provide an assessment of the current situation of:
(i) policy (legal and regulatory) framework;
(ii) economic importance (contribution to GNP, number of employees, export involvement, foreseeable trends);
(iii) number, quality and geographic dispersion of the systems and their likely trends;
(iv) situation regarding the quality of systems and their maintenance by comparison with international standards;
(v) qualitative and quantitative description of the human resources involved
Detail identified needs, based on above analysis
Give the reasons why it is necessary to develop and implement RMP
3. Assistance received
Indicate sources and nature of assistance received for preparation of RMP, including:
(i) multilateral and bilateral agencies
(ii) companies and industry
(iii) government departments and agencies
(iv) non-governmental organizations, etc.
4. Components of the phase-out strategy
Define the strategic objectives and constraints on which the Action Plan will be based.
5. Action plan
(i) indicate the specific actions to be undertaken in each sector and sub-sector. Each element of the action plan must be accompanied by a precise and realistic timetable
(ii) define projects, their objectives, costs and precise impact. Each project should be accompanied by ODS phase-out targets
(iii) total cost of the action plan
(iv) financial and technical assistance needed to implement the Action Plan
(i) identify the lead agency which will be responsible for implementation of RMP. In most cases, it will be the NOU already established under the Institutional Strengthening project.
(ii) define a precise timetable for implementing institutional arrangements and Action Plan
(iii) describe the arrangements for monitoring of effective implementation of RMP
7. Impact
Define foreseen impacts with regard to:
(i) meeting Montreal Protocol control measures
(ii) reduction in ODS consumption
(iii) strengthening national capacity and expertise
DATA TO BE COLLECTED
The following table summarizes the sources and types of data that can be collected.
Customs:
quantities and types of imported ODS refrigerants and equipment containing them
numbers and types of imported systems containing or capable of containing ODS
name of importers (ODS and units).
import licenses, quotas, import taxes, if any (ODS, units containing them and equipment).
quality of inspection and monitoring of imports
amount of exports of ODS or units containing them, if any
origin of imports and destination of exports (ODR and equipment).
Industry:
industrial firms using refrigeration and/or air conditioning
economic importance and trends
degree of electrification of country and trends
extent of foreign investment
Agriculture:
survey of consumers
Tourism:
number of hotels, restaurants, etc and ODS containing systems
economic importance and trends
extent of foreign investment
Fishing:
names and geographical distribution of fishing firms and fish
processing units
economic importance and trends
estimated extend of foreign investment
Commerce:
economic importance of commerce using ODS (supermarkets, other shops) and trends
estimated extent of foreign investment
estimated number of craft workers and workshops in the refrigeration sector and trends
analysis of the structure of this sector (informal, formal, etc.).
Education and vocational training:
data on training centres for occupations connected with refrigeration
analysis of the quality of training
Transport:
estimated number of air conditioned vehicles and trends
estimated number of refrigerated vehicles and trends
Statistics:
number of households with refrigerators, freezers, air conditioning and air conditioned vehicles
macro-economic data and trend
Importers:
quantities and types of imported ODS and trend
names of customers and types of business
Distributors:
quantities and types of ODS distributed and trend
names of customers and businesses
types of packaging used (throwaway or re-usable).
Final users:
type of activity
quantities and types of ODS consumed and trends of needs
qualifications of personnel
costs of manpower, maintenance, etc
(UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/23/68, Decision 23/15 (paras. 35 and 36).
(UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/31/61, Decision 31/48 (para78(h)).