VATIS UPDATE Article

The government of India has issued directions prohibiting certain manufacturers from emitting a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) with high global warming potential (GWP) into the atmosphere. “The government has issued orders on October 13, 2016 directing manufacturers of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC-22) not to emit or vent hydrofluorocarbons (HFC-23) in the atmosphere,” said Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave. HFC-23 gas is a by-product of the process of manufacture of HCFC-22 gases.

Under the orders, the producers of HCFC-22 are mandated to file their report on production of ozone depleting substances (ODS) under Ozone Depleting Substances Rules, 2000 as amended from time to time and to certify the status of HFC-23 production in each category being incinerated or used as feedstock or used for any other purpose on annual basis. The state pollution boards concerned will ensure compliance of this order while renewing Consent to Operate or through their regular inspection.

At a crucial climate conference on HFCs in Kigali in Rwanda, India had announced that it will eliminate the HFC-23 gas as part of its commitment to combat the threat emanating from climate-damaging HFCs. Giving the go-ahead for releasing the order for incinerating HFC-23 by producers of HCFC-22 gas, Dave said, “HFC-23 gas, a potent greenhouse gas with global warming potential 14,800 times more than carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced as a by-product of HCFC-22 manufacturing, and if vented out is a threat to the environment”.