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Nigeria’s commitment to full implementation of the Montreal Protocol on substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and its Ozone Depletion Substances (ODS) phase-out programme remains unwavering, said the Minister of State for Environment Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako
According to him, the Federal Government has also empowered all its regulatory agencies that have one thing or another to do with ODS (ozone-depleting substances) PHASE-OUT activities to commence enforcement immediately.
Similarly, small and medium-scale enterprises, as well as manufacturing industries across the country, are converting to ozone-friendly technologies and are now producing ozone-friendly products.
The Minister made this remark in Lagos at the commissioning of a new ozone and climate-friendly air-conditioning manufacturing line at sacral industries, Lagos, in line with the Multilateral Environmental Agreement that regulates the production and consumption of man-made chemicals referred to as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).
The Minister was on the facility tour of Sacral Industries (One of the beneficiary companies), with the company of the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Matsunaga Kazuyoshi and UNIDO Deputy Director General, Ciyong Zou.
Salako maintained that Nigeria is currently implementing the Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) project to completely phase out its 2010 baseline consumption of 344.9 Tonnes of HCFC by 2040, through the Federal Ministry of Environment while UNDP & UNIDO are the Lead & Co-implementing Agencies respectively.
“The project is being implemented in stages and having completed stages 1 & 2 under the UNIDO component of the project, the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol approved stage 3, which we are currently implementing, focusing on the conversion of eligible companies in the Refrigeration & Air Conditioning manufacturing sector from the use of HCFCs to ozone-friendly & low global warming potential alternatives such as Hydrocarbons, to help Nigeria meets its target of 67.5% reduction in HCFC baseline consumption by 2025.
“Sacral Industries Ltd, hitherto uses HCFC-22 & HFC-410a, a climate-potent gas in the manufacture of Air Conditioning equipment. But the assistance provided includes the conversion of the company AC manufacturing line from the use of ozone-depleting substances to ozone and climate-friendly substances, redesigning and adapting the line for flammable refrigerants through modifications and purchase of new equipment, staff training, test running/pilot production and dissemination of lessons learned among others”
He posited that the converted line would lead to the phase-out of 10.93 Metric Tonnes of HCFC-22, thereby contributing to the achievement of Nigeria’s 67.5% reduction target of HCFC baseline consumption by 2025.
Outlining the benefits he asserted, “Some of the other benefits are Availability of ozone-friendly and low global warming potential air conditioners in the country; generation of foreign exchange for the country from the export of the company’s products and foreign exchange savings from local production; building capacity of our indigenous AC manufacturing companies in the manufacture of ozone and climate-friendly air conditioners.
“Others are the creation of jobs and generate wealth for the citizens; increased capacity utilization in the company as it manufactures environmentally friendly products. This administration is committed to putting in place all necessary policies and enabling legislations that will sustain the phase-out” he added.
Speaking at the event, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, said its mandate is to strive towards creating an environment that is conducive for manufacturers and to promote manufacturing business in Nigeria.
“At MAN, we have established a unit called Green Manufacturing and the Environment and we are rapidly improving our members’ awareness and ensuring that we have a supporting policy that will promote and encourage members’ awareness of green environment, for a sustainable economy.
So the Stage 3 of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-Out Management Plan (HPMP) is a commitment to the environment and a testimony of what the future holds for us” Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director General of MAN maintained.
In response, the MD of Sacral Industries Limited Rajeeve Girglani, said his company would continue to key in FG/UNIDO innovative, reliable and sustainable vision of a green economy and pro-healthy environment for every Nigerian.
Girglani said the company is transitioning from environmentally harmful gases to a cleaner and greener future. It has been our goal as a company, to meet climate change challenges and achieve their green future, which we will all benefit from.
“About 40 to 45 per cent of our materials are sourced locally. Going forward, we would like to improve in that. I would like to reiterate that about 98 per cent of our workforce are Nigerians. We believe in training the trainers. Once we are trained, we pass the knowledge down to our colleagues, to make sure that they can sustain and run this company independently” Girglani affirmed.
On his part, Mr Ciyong Zou, Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development, said UNIDO stands on its commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s manufacturing sector is being supported to unleash its competencies and become a leading industrial sector in the region.
“For us at UNIDO, we will continue to accompany manufacturing companies and their engineers and technicians, including those who will provide maintenance services to keep the air-conditioning appliances functioning efficiently” he assured.
For Japan’s ambassador to Nigeria, the resolve to phase out ozone-depleting substances and products is a collaborative effort between the Nigerian government and DAIKIA, a leading Japanese company in the manufacturing of air conditioners. “The current initiative signifies a considerable attainable in one of the key themes of the Sustainable Development Goals,” Mr Kazuyoshi affirmed.
