OZONE-DEPLETING SUBSTANCES IN RUSSIA: CURRENT SITUATION AND FORECAST

According to the current scientific data, the maximum concentration of ozone in the stratosphere is observed at heights ranging from 19 to 23 km. This is the very part of the atmospheric ozone constituting the so-called ozone layer. The role of the ozone layer in both germ of life and its further support is extremely important: the layer ensures the absorption of the biologically harmful UV radiation of the Sun with the wave length from 280 to 320 nm (UV-B).

The correlation between the decrease of the ozone concentration in the stratosphere and the increase of UV-B radiation level near the ground was determined in the second half of the past century. The radiation causes DNA damage, weakening of the immune system in humans and animals, cataract, skin and retina cancer, death of phytoplankton which is the foundation of the World Ocean's fodder base; the radiation also destroys crops of legumes and cereals. Moreover, UV-B damages industrial materials, various types of resins and plastics.

Besides, due to the warming of the lower layers of the atmosphere, there occurs heat redistribution: stratosphere cools down and the planet's climate changes.

In the 70-s of the past century, there was determined the decrease of ozone concentration in the stratosphere over the middle latitudes at the rate of 0.4-0.5% per annum. The analysis of physical and chemical causes of this phenomenon showed the involvement of human origin substances in the process of destruction of the Earth's ozone layer. These substances are commonly known as ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

To ODS relate chemical compounds containing chlorine and/or bromine: chlorofluorocarbons — CFC, hydrochlorofluorocarbons — HCFC, bromofluorocarbons — halons, carbon tetrachloride — CTC, methyl chloroform, bromomethane and others.

The level of hazard that a substance represents in relation to the ozone layer is determined by this substance's “ozone-depleting potential”, ODP. The more hazardous a substance is, the higher is its ODP.

From the beginning of the 20th century, the production of ODS used as aerosol propellants, refrigerants, foaming agents, solvents, fire-extinguishers, and sterilants has been gradually increasing.

In March, 1985, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted. Two months later, first publications on the discovery of “ozone hole” over the Antarctica appeared, which speeded up the work on the development of specific measures for ODS phase-out. In September of 1987, 46 countries signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer which included the schedule of works for CFC and bromine-containing halons phase-out. Later on, amendments and adjustments to the Montreal Protocol were adopted which broadened the list of the controlled substances and adjusted the terms for phase-out of such substances. These documents also provided for the measures to limit ODS export and import.

As of now, the Vienna Convention that came into effect on September, 22nd, 1988, has been signed by 196 countries, while the Montreal Protocol (01.01.1989) has been signed by 196 countries, The London Amendment (10.08.1992) — by 194 countries, The Copenhagen Amendment (14.06.1994) — by 191 countries, The Montreal Amendment (10.11.1999) — bye 179 countries, and The Beijing Amendment (25.02.2002) — by 161 countries. The Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol are the only international agreements that all the countries of the world participate in.

According to the obligations under the Montreal Protocol, as amended and adjusted, CFC production in the Russian Federation was to be stopped by January, 1st, 1996. However, the economical situation in the country and the industry not being ready to stop consuming CFC made it impossible to fulfill those obligations in due time. Taking into consideration the situation, the parties to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol satisfied the request of then-Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, V. S. Chernomyrdin, and granted the prolongation to Russia. As a result of that, CFC and other ODS production listed in Annexes A and B to the Montreal Protocol was stopped on December, 20th, 2000. Presently, those substances are produced only at LLC “Polymer Plant of KCKK” (CFC-113) and at JSC “Chimprom” (CTC). At that, these substances are not deemed produced officially because they are used as raw materials for polymers and fluoropolymers synthesis. In 2006-2009, a certain share of CFC-113 was officially taken for the use in the rocket and space industry (critical applications).

After the manufacturing of CFC and ODS listed in Annex A and B to the Montreal Protocol stopped, the main source of those substances became the stocks accumulated by the manufacturers. By 2006, all those stocks were run out.

The transition to the use of ozone-safe substances and technologies which started in the mid-90's of the past century, will last at least 5 or 7 years more. Enterprises that decided to phase out substances depleting the ozone layer, started using transitional ODPs — HCFCs listed in Annex C to the Montreal Protocol. Those HCFCs' manufacture and consumption is regulated by The Beijing and The Copenhagen Amendments and by the Adjustments approved at XIX meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol held in Montreal on September, 17-21, 2007.

Out of 40 transitional ODPs listed in Annex C, in Russia HCFC-21, HCFC-22, HCFC-141b, and HCFC-142b are most commonly used. These substances are widely used in the domestic, commercial and industrial HVAC equipment, as well as for manufacturing insulation boards, plates, panels, and coatings for water, gas, and oil pipelines. Of all the listed substances, the most commonly used in the Russian Federation is HCFC-22. Halons HCFC-122a, HCFC-122a, HCFC-123, and HCFC-225ca are much less popular and the demand for those substances is unlikely to increase.

HCFC-21, HCFC-22, and HCFC-142b are manufactured by three Russian enterprises: JSC “Halogen”, Perm (HCFC-21 and HCFC-22), JSC “Chimprom”, Volgograd (HCFC-21, HCFC-22), and LLC “Polymer Plant of KCKK”, Kirovo-Chepetsk, Kirov Region (HCFC-22, HCFC-142b). HCFC-141b is not manufactured in Russia.

Four more enterprises that manufacture ODS earlier have completed transition to the manufacture of ozone-safe refrigerants (HCF) or withdrew from this sector.

It appears that the current trends in the production of transitional ODS (HCFC) for all areas of use including the use as raw materials for manufacturing ozone-safe products are likely to remain in the nearest future.

Within the framework of the Montreal Protocol, all calculations regarding HCFC manufacture and consumption, are performed in tons of ODP. This parameter represents the product of the amount of substance in metric tons (mt) by the value of its ODP (ODP of HCFC-21 is 0.040; of HCFC-22 — 0.055; of HCFC-141b — 0.110; of HCFC-142b — 0.065).

It's worth mentioning, that in the context of the Montreal Protocol manufacture of HCFC for further synthesis of ozone-safe substances is not deemed “HCFC manufacture”. Whereas “consumption” is determined as the aggregate volume of “manufacture” and “import” less “export” and “save to the extent that the Parties decide to permit the level of production or consumption that is necessary to satisfy uses agreed by them to be critical uses”.

According to The Copenhagen Amendment and The Montreal Amendment, from January, 1st, 2010 till December, 31st, 2014, Russia is allowed to consume annually up to 999.23 t ODP of hydrochlorofluorocarbons. Starting from January, 1st, 2015 and till December, 21st, 2020, the consumption is to constitute 339.69 t ODP, and from January, 1st, 2020 till December, 31st, 2029 — 19.98 t ODP.

Taking into consideration the restoration of the Russian economy as well as the continuing import of HCFC-containing equipment (refrigerating equipment, air-conditioners, foaming equipment), the limitation of import of these substances from 2010 appears unavoidable. Serious structural changes will start only from 2015 when HCFC manufacture and consumption is to decrease three times as compared to the levels of 2007-2009.

According to expert estimates and information from HCFC manufacturing enterprises, 2010 will see the following volumes of manufacture: HCFC-21 — 130 mt (5.2 t ODP); HCFC-22 — 6200 mt (341.0 t ODP); HCFC-142b — 100 mt (6.5 t ODP). Total — 352.7 t ODP.

In order not to violate the Montreal Protocol, HCFC import into the Russian Federation has to be limited at the level of 646-646.5 t ODP. In 2007 the import volume constituted 750.4 t ODP, in 2008 — 855.0 t ODP, in 2009 — 648.4 t ODP. That is, during 2010-2015 HCFC import into the country should remain at the level of 2009.

According to experts, the following breakdown of HCFC import (in t ODP) may be assumed for 2010 (by substances):

• HCFC-21 — 0 t ODP;
• HCFC-22 — 230.0 t ODP (35.6 %) or 4,181.8 mt;
• HCFC-141b — 380.0 t ODP (58.8 %) or 3,454.5 mt;
• HCFC-142b — 20.0 t ODP (3.1 %) or 307.7 mt.
• Reserve for critical uses — 16.0 t ODP (2.5 %).

As of now, the draft Order of the Government of the Russian Federation “On the measures for quantitative limitation of ozone-depleting substances consumption in the Russian Federation” has been prepared. This document provides the development and approval of the guidelines for determination and distribution of quotas for ODS manufacture and consumption as well as terms and conditions for ODS suppliers competitive selection. Prior to the adoption of these documents, a permissive mechanism of some kind is likely to be used.

It can be expected, that the authorized bodies will first of all try to supply with hydrochlorofluorocarbons the areas of critical use such as: medicine, defense, national and infrastructure-critical facilities. Also, applications from ultimate consumers of HCFC and those who imported up to 10 mt of HCFC during in 2007-2009 will likely to be subject to priority consideration. In order to support small business enterprises, applications for HCFC import of up to 10 mt per annum will be satisfied in full.

Applications from economic entities that violated customs legislation at importing ODS to the country during 2007-2009 will be considered after all the others.

The above-mentioned Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation also provides the introduction of prohibition for the disposal of any equipment containing ozone-depleting substances prior to their extraction for recycling, subsequent use or environmentally safe elimination.

In 2H2010, there is also forecasted the introduction from January, 1st, 2011 of the prohibition (or substantial limitation) of import to the Russian Federation of HCFC-21, HCFC-22, and HCFC-142b (taking into consideration the facilities for these HCFCs manufacture present in the Russian Federation) as well as equipment containing HCFCs or intended to be used with them.

References

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The article was prepared by V. N. Tselikov, Advisor of the Directorate of FSUE “Federal Centre of Geoecological Systems” (FCGS “Ecology”), Consultant at United Nations Industrial Development organization (UNIDO), member of the International Academy of Refrigeration (IAR)