Current projects

The HCFC Management Phase out Plan is a plan for final elimination of HCFC in the Republic of Macedonia.

This document is part of the policies of the Republic of Macedonia in the realm of environment protection especially designed to ozone layer protection.  It defines the guidelines for the reduction and ultimate elimination of HCFC – substances classified in Annex C of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. It contains a report on the management of substances that deplete the ozone layer with a special emphasis on HCFC in the country strategy and implementation plan for the final elimination of HCFC in Macedonia. The document is supported with a timetable and financial structure. The plan for the elimination of HCFC substances in the Republic of Macedonia was adopted by the Government in November 2011.

The preparation of the HCFCs Management Plan was conducted by a survey on installed quantities and annual consumption of HCFCs in Republic of Macedonia in accordance with the new Montreal Protocol accelerated phase-out schedule for HCFCs. A new baseline for the country, based on the average consumption in 2009-2010 and subsequent freeze in 2013 was established. The Plan is developed in a staged approach. The first stage of the planned activities covers the period from the year 2010 to 2015 and the second stage is related to the period 2016 – 2040.

The planned activities and implementation of the HCFC Management Phase out Plan is through the following means:

Policy instruments (Import Quota System, Mandatory reporting by importers and exporters, Environmental taxes for import of ODSs and ODS containing equipment and Bans on import).

Projects (Training of involved stakeholders, Improvement of refrigerants Recovery and Recycling scheme, Completion of the conversions of technology in the manufacturing industries, establishment of a Waste Disposal Center)

Institutional strengthening (Preparation and implementation of policy instruments, preparation of project proposals, implementation of approved projects, awareness raising, etc.)

As part of its implementation of project activities, a Manual for the elimination of HCFC refrigerants was prepared. In addition, a series of workshops on good practice in handling refrigerants was organized where a total of 379 service technicians have been trained to date.  Moreover, under the project, a Manual was prepared for the customs officers “Control of Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer” and a series of trainings were organized where a total of 96 customs officers from all border crossings in the Republic of Macedonia were trained.  A total of 55 sets – equipment for collecting and recycling of refrigerant fluid were granted to service shops. It is also important to note that three secondary technical schools received a demonstration unit for practical training in the field of refrigeration and 40 instructors/educators have been trained on the principles of good service practice.