New Delhi, April 7 The Ministry of Environment has asked state- and central-level bodies involved in granting environmental clearances not to approve any new or additional hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) production projects after December 31, 2027.
Having ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in September 2021, India is required to freeze its baseline HFC consumption by January 1, 2028, and reduce it from 2032 through 2047.
The baseline for HFC production and consumption will comprise the average of HFC production and consumption for 2024, 2025 and 2026, along with 65 per cent of the baseline average production and consumption of HCFC-22 between 2009 and 2010.
"In view of the freeze date of 01.01.2028, it is necessary to put in place a mechanism to regulate and progressively reduce HFC production in order to meet India's international commitments. Accordingly, no additional HFC production capacity should be permitted beyond 31.12.2027," the ministry said in an order dated April 1.
The order was addressed to State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs), State Level Expert Appraisal Committees (SEACs) and the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) -- the technical body that evaluates project proposals for environmental impacts and recommends whether to grant or deny clearance.
"Any additional HFC production capacity already granted Environmental Clearance for controlled applications shall not be allowed to commence production beyond 31.12.2027, in line with the freeze obligations under the Kigali Amendment," the order said.
It added that any fresh application seeking a new Environmental Clearance (EC) or an expansion of an existing EC for HFC production for controlled applications shall be accompanied by an undertaking from the applicant that the installation and commissioning, including the commencement of production of the HFC production plant, shall be done on or before December 31, 2027.
Currently, the HFCs produced in India mainly include HFC-32, HFC-134a and HFC-125. These chemicals are primarily used in the refrigeration and air-conditioning and fire extinguisher sectors for controlled applications.
"However, the obligations under the Kigali Amendment apply only to controlled applications, whereas feedstock uses (use as raw material for manufacturing other chemicals with negligible emissions) are exempted under the provisions of the Montreal Protocol," the order said.
India needs to carry out a phased decrease in production and consumption of HFCs from the established baseline.
Starting from 2023, there has to be a 10 per cent reduction, 20 per cent reduction by 2037, 30 per cent reduction by 2042 and 85 per cent reduction by 2047.