Belarus to get $2.2m to cut down on use of ozone depleting substances

Belarus will be granted $2.2 million within a framework of an international technical aid project to cut down on the use of ozone depleting substances (ODS), head of the atmosphere and water resources department of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry Sergei Zavyalov told reporters on 10 September, BelTA has learned.

Belarus is taking part in the international technical aid project to reduce hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) consumption for the period until 2020. The project is financed by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The beneficiaries of the project are environmental protection ministries of Belarus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

According to Sergei Zavyalov, there are plans to purchase equipment worth about $650,000 for the MAZ-Kupava manufacturer of trailers and bodies and David Gorodok Electromechanical Plant by the end of the year. The equipment is needed to reduce the consumption of ozone depleting substances at these companies. Besides, diagnostic equipment will be purchased for laboratories of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry and customs services. Companies providing maintenance services (for example, repairs of refrigerators and air conditioners) will be provided with recycling equipment.

Equipment and multimedia devices will be bought for educational institutions that train specialists in microclimate.

There are also plans to implement three to four pilot projects in various fields (refrigerating equipment, milk cooling at one of agricultural companies) to demonstrate Belarusian companies how technical retooling can help cut down on the use of ozone depleting substances.