Oman has stopped the import of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) well before the 2015 deadline. "Acting on the guidelines of the Montreal Protocol, we have managed to stop the import of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons and methyl bromide, which are collectively known as ODS.
This is a rare achievement for a developing country, and our efforts have been lauded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)," said Ham-ood al Habsi, head of follow-up, climate affairs section, at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA).
ODS are those chemicals, the use of which can result in a series of reactions in the stratosphere layer, causing depletion of the ozone layer, he said. While chlorofluorocarbons are used as refrigerants, propellants and solvents, halon is used as a gaseous fire suppression agent. Methyl bromide is used by farmers, prior to planting, to eradicate fungi, nematodes, micro-organisms and weeds from the soil to avoid destruction of crops.
According to UNEP, CFCs are mainly produced in China, India, The Netherlands, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Venezuela. Halons are produced in South Korea and China. Methyl brom-ide is produced in the US, Israel, Japan, France and China.
On the steps taken by the ministry to curb import of ODS, Habsi said, "We have allocated quotas to all companies that import ODS. Secondly, we have launched an electronic database to register clients dealing in ODS. We have incorporated ODS
requirements with our national development strategies. We also have a designated national auth-ority to oversee the implementation of CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) projects in Oman."
"Most important among the steps was the setting up of a national ozone unit in 2001, which was rechristened as the ozone layer protection section under the climate affairs monitoring department to implement plans to phase out ODS," said Habsi.
"The ministry has allowed companies which have excess quantities of ODS to either use or recycle them."
"We are also planning to pha-se out the import of two other types of ODS - chlorodifluromehane (CHF2C1 - R22) and dich-lorofluroethanes (C2H3FC12 - R141) by 2013," said Ibrahim Yaqoob al Harthy, environmental inspector at MECA. "Currently, there are 80 companies dealing in ODS in Oman."
"As part of our awareness campaign, we visit schools and screen videos explaining the impact of ODS on the environment," he said.
Oman has stopped the import of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) well before the 2015 deadline. "Acting on the guidelines of the Montreal Protocol, we have managed to stop the import of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons and methyl bromide, which are collectively known as ODS. This is a rare achievement for a developing country, and our efforts have been lauded by
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)," said Hamood al Habsi, head of follow-up, climate affairs section, at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA).
ODS are those chemicals, the use of which can result in a series of reactions in the stratosphere layer, causing depletion of the ozone layer, he said. While chlorofluorocarbons are used as refrigerants, propellants and solvents, halon is used as a gaseous fire suppression agent. Methyl bromide is used by farmers, prior to planting, to eradicate fungi, nematodes, micro-organisms and weeds from the soil to avoid destruction of crops.
According to UNEP, CFCs are mainly produced in China, India, The Netherlands, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Venezuela. Halons are produced in South Korea and China. Methyl brom-ide is produced in the US, Israel, Japan, France and China.
On the steps taken by the ministry to curb import of ODS, Habsi said, "We have allocated quotas to all companies that
import ODS. Secondly, we have launched an electronic database to register clients dealing in ODS. We have incorporated ODS requirements with our national development strategies. We also have a designated national auth-ority to oversee the implementation of CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) projects in Oman."
"Most important among the steps was the setting up of a nat-ional ozone unit in 2001, which was rechristened as the ozone layer protection section under the climate affairs monitoring department to implement plans to phase out ODS," said Habsi.
"The ministry has allowed companies which have excess quantities of ODS to either use or recycle them."
"We are also planning to pha-se out the import of two other types of ODS - chlorodifluromehane (CHF2C1 - R22) and dich-lorofluroethanes (C2H3FC12 - R141) by 2013," said Ibrahim Yaqoob al Harthy, environmental inspector at MECA. "Currently, there are 80 companies dealing in ODS in Oman."
"As part of our awareness campaign, we visit schools and screen videos explaining the impact of ODS on the environment," he said.
© Muscat Daily 2011
