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In a speech delivered on the occasion of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, celebrated this year under the theme: “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Action,” in the presence of the Director General of Customs, Major General Abdelhafid Bakhouche, and representatives of several ministerial departments, as well as the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) representative in Algeria, Dahleb pointed out that “since ratifying the Montreal Protocol in 1992, Algeria has been committed to not producing ozone-depleting substances and to phasing out their use under the timetable set by the parties to the agreement.”

“Algeria does not produce or export any ozone-depleting substances”, she said, stressing that the country has undertaken a series of measures to protect the ozone layer, such as banning the import of these substances, including chlorofluorocarbons, halons and carbon tetrachloride since January 1, 2010, and methyl chloroform and methyl bromide in 2015.

Concerning hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), their import has been “frozen” as of January 1, 2013, at their 2009-2010 average level, and their definitive ban will take place as of January 1, 2030, said the minister

“The import of these substances is currently subject to an annual quota system, with quantities determined by an inter-ministerial commission chaired by the Ministry of the Environment,” she continued.

In this regard, the same official recalled the contribution of the Multilateral Fund to the fulfilment of all commitments relating to the gradual elimination of ozone-depleting substances, through the completion of various projects for the substitution of these substances, thus enabling the acquisition of new industrial installations, operating with replacement products, which have benefited public and private industrial groups, such as ENIEM and Condor.

Algeria has also benefited from equipment for the recovery and recycling of refrigerants used in the maintenance of refrigeration and mobile air-conditioning equipment operated by training establishments specializing in refrigeration, as well as portable detection devices for use at border crossing points operated by the Directorate General of Customs to control imports.   

For her part, UNIDO's Representative in Algeria, Hassiba Sayah reaffirmed in a speech delivered on behalf of UNIDO Director-General Muller Gerd, his commitment to supporting member states' efforts to combat anything that could harm the protection of the ozone layer.[/ecr]