Donors Fund Closure of Russia's CFC Factories

As a result of a World Bank initiative, 10 countries committed funds to help close Russia’s production facilities for CFCs and halons by the year 2000. This is viewed as the most effective way to halt CFC smuggling to industrialized countries. The US$19 million donation will eliminate half the world’s
production capacity for ozone-depleting substances.

The funds will be used to compensate manufacturers. They supplement US$10
million from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) available to assist Russia
in meeting its obligations under the Montreal Protocol. The donor countries
are: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, UK and
USA.

In addition, GEF appropriated US$60 million to help Russian industry substitute ozone-compatible products. Countries which purchase supplies from Russia will thus benefit as well. GEF is administered by UNEP, The World Bank and the UN Development Programme.

Russia also committed to phase out production and consumption of carbon
tetrachloride and methyl chloroform by 2000 and to observe controls on HCFCs and
methyl bromide.

The Tenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol meets in Cairo, Egypt,
November 17 to 24.