Le Cong Thanh, acting head of the Department for Hydrometeorology and Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, made this statement at a seminar to launch a programme to phase out the use refrigerant-22 (R22) in refrigerators and air conditioners.

According to the Montreal Protocol, Vietnam will begin to phase out HCFC ozone layer depleting substances from 2010, including R22, which is mainly used by the refrigerating and air conditioning industries. By 2025, the country aims to cut the use of HCFCs by 67.5 percent.

Mr. Thanh said that his department has conducted a general survey of HCFC use in Vietnam and cooperated with international organisations to map out programmes and projects to seek finance and technology for a phase out of HCFCs in Vietnam.

The quantity of HCFCs, particularly R22, used in the refrigerating and air-conditioning industries is on the increase, Mr. Thanh said, adding that finding an ideal alterative refrigerant is a major challenge facing the industry.