1. Institutional Strengthening (IS) Project
2. Implementation ofHydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage I
3. Implementation of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage II
4. Implementing of Enable Activities to the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol in Sri Lanka

Institutional Strengthening (IS) Project

The Institutional Strengthening (IS) Project was commenced in 1994 and has continued through the last 26 years.  As a member country to the protocol, Sri Lanka is responsible for designing and implementing national level activities to fulfill the national obligations. IS project plays a key role to sustain NOU and implement institutional activities according to the agreed Annual Work Plan (AWP) which is prepared by the UNDP in consultation with NOU.

Multilateral Fund (MLF) of Montreal provides funds to implement IS project and is channeled through the UNDP on a biannual basis. Sri Lanka has completed IS project– Phase XII successfully achieving project objectives for the years 2019-2020.

Funding for phase XIII has been approved by the MLF at its 86th Executive Committee meeting.

Implementation of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage I

Implementation of HCFC Phaseout Management Plan (HPMP) was commenced in 2012 under the accelerated phase-out of HCFC programme, since HCFCs are not only ODS but potent greenhouse gases having impacts on earth’s climate. 

The consultations and technical assistance are provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as Lead Agency and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as Cooperate Agency.

This is a long-term project which is planned to carry out under two stages. Stage -1 is mainly focused on compliance in HCFC phase out with the freeze in 2013, 10% reduction from 2015 to 2020 and reduction of 35% in 2020. Stage I of HPMP was concluded achieving the reduction target in 2020. The Stage II which is starting from 2021 will be focused on adaptation of policies and mechanisms in order to complete the phase-out of HCFC by 2030 and to introduce and adapt to zero ODP, low GWP, Energy Efficient, safe alternative substances and technologies where HCFC had been used. 

Under implementation of HCFC Stage I, the Ministry of Environment introduced a Quota system to control the import of HCFC refrigerant with effect from 01 January 2013 and to ban import of used equipment. Further steps have been taken in 2018, to ban the import of brand-new equipment which is operating with HCFC substances and to make mandatory requirement of possessing recovery of refrigerant equipment in RAC service workshops to recover refrigerant when before opening the RAC equipment for servicing. 

Funding for HPMP Stage I was approved by the Executive Committee at the 62nd Meeting held in December 2010 at a funding level. The Executive Committee entered into a Multi-year Performance Based Agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka, spread over 10 years in four tranches from 2010 to 2020. By this agreement, the Government of Sri Lanka agreed to phase-out 4.93 ODP tons constituting (35% of the baseline) by the year 2020. Funds for the investment, development and improvement in the industry are channeled through UNDP, the lead implementing agency for MP in Sri Lanka

Funds for the non-investment programs under HPMP are channeled through the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Corporate agency of MP in Sri Lanka. Policy development, training programs, capacity building are the key areas covered under UNEP.  Funding was approved for the implementation of Tranche 03 from 2020 to 2021 at the same 76th Executive Committee meeting and funding has also been approved for Tranche 04.

Implementation of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage II

HPMP Stage-II, Sri Lanka propose to continue the reduction of HCFC consumption until reaching the overall consumption reduction rate of 100% in 2028 and keeping an allowance of 2.5 percent of the baseline consumption for meeting servicing needs till 2030. HPMP Stage-II proposal addresses phase-out of HCFC-22 in the RAC servicing sector, project activities, policy and regulations, enforcement and trainings, enabling Sri Lanka to meet the obligations under the Montreal Protocol and its’ Amendments.  Objectives of the PRP were to conduct a survey, evaluate the current consumption of HCFCs, and evaluate capacity needs in Sri Lanka for the implementation of HPMP Stage II (PRP) proposals and to design investment and non-investment activities to phase out the remaining eligible HCFC consumption in the country as per the commitments under the Montreal Protocol.

In HPMP stage II, the UNDP will continue its role as the lead implementing agency while UNEP is the cooperating agent. Accordingly, the UNDP is responsible for the implementation of investment portion of the Plan i.e. conversion Project, Retrofit of HCFC based equipment and capacity building of RAC sector to safe handling of zero ODP low GWP refrigerants which are having safety issues. The UNEP is responsible for non-investment portion of the HPMP stage-II i.e. Capacity building of RAC sector on new alternative technologies, develop standards, training for custom officer, awareness, green procurement, Standard preparation, initiatives for energy efficiency of the equipment.

A Consultant was recruited by the UNDP to prepare HPMP Stage II proposal and he has completed the field survey and relevant activities according to the Terms of Reference (TOR). Accordingly, the final report was submitted to the Executive Committee of the MLF through UNDP.

The 86th Meeting of the Executive Committee has approved the funding for Stage II of the HCFC phase-out management plan (HPMP) for Sri Lanka. The implementation of stage II of the HPMP will phase out 9.14 ODP Tons of HCFCs to assist Sri Lanka in meeting the Montreal Protocol Compliance target of reduction of HCFC consumption from the baseline to 67.5% (4.52 ODP Ton) in 2025 and 100% by 2030.

Implementing of Enable Activities to the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol in Sri Lanka

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are manmade chemicals, which are widely used as substitutes for ODSs. Although HFCs are not ODS, they are very powerful greenhouse gases most with high Global Warming Potential (GWP). Therefore, in October 2016, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, including Sri Lanka, reached an agreement to control a group of HFCs and adopted an amendment to Montreal Protocol (the Kigali Amendment). HFC phase-down is expected to avoid up to 0.4 degree Celsius of global temperature rise by 2100.

While Sri Lanka recognize the importance of HFC phase down to achieve climate benefits, the government of Sri Lanka decided to take measures to address these issues with the implementation of Enabling Activities for HFC Phase-down. In this context, this Enabling Activity project proposal is to access funding for activities to finalize the ratification and facilitate implementation of the initial obligations of the Kigali amendment and related development for Article 5 Group 1 countries.  Specially, licensing and reporting system, as well as initial capacity building related to promote the adoption of low GWP alternatives to HFCs. At the 81st Meeting of the Executive Committee, the Enabling Activities for HFC phase-down for Sri Lanka was approved by the Executive Committee.