TEHRAN, 27 December 2006 (UNIC)--At its 50th meeting of the Executive Committee of the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund held in November 2006 in New Delhi, India the project document for Solvent Sector Plan in the Islamic Republic of Iran, was approved in the value of US$ 856,478. The project will be funded by the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund and implemented by the United Nations Development Organization (UNIDO).

Dr. Malayeri, Unit Chief Montreal Protocol - Solvents, Toxic Waste and Fumigants Unit (PTC/MEA/MPS) Multilateral Environmental Agreements Branch is planning to visit Iran and discuss with the Government authorities and national counterpart the progress in the implementation of MP projects and the project for the formulation of a national strategy for energy efficiency and conservation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Furthermore he will use this opportunity to discuss with the Department of Environment, National Ozone Unit, and the recent approved solvent project for the country.

The currently used ozone depleting solvents in Iran contain chlorine, which is safe for human use but is considered as a major culprit of ozone depletion. Ozone depletion poses a serious environmental threat, as it reduces the amount of ozone in the ozone layer that acts as a shield to protect the earth against the sun’s harmful rays. In 1987, 183 counties including Iran agreed to a treaty urges to implement gradual phase out of all ODS usage.

The global phase out of CTC, CFC-113 and TCA production and formidable challenge to develop alternative ozone friendly cleaners placed the country like Iran in a difficult situation to continue the supply of other halogenated solvents as Trichloroethylene (TCA) and Perchloroethylne (PCE) in cleaning operations. However, the pressure of regulatory activities, particularly in the EU, has accelerated the development of totally closed equipment to be used with chlorocarbon solvents. Stringent standards can now be met by cleaning equipment in Iran.

The Solvent Sector Project will eliminate the remaining Carbontetra Chloride (CTC) and 1,1,1-Trichloroethene (TCA) consumption of 52.7 MT in the Islamic Republic of Iran by the end of 2007. The Plan will cover the technology conversions in the remaining eligible six enterprises and ensure timely, sustainable and cost-effective phase-out through the investment, management and technical support components, including technical assistance for small scale enterprises (SSIs). Through this project the complete phase-out of carbon tetrachloride (CTC) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) will have been achieved in Iran by 31 December 2007 and Iran will meet its obligations of CTC and TCA reduction and elimination in accordance with the control schedule of the Montreal Protocol. Technical assistance to the six Iranian companies, i.e. Iran Regulator,Amen Sanat, Ghoflkar, Pourangan, Iran Essence and Pars Electric in their conversion to ODS-free solvents will be provided by UNIDO.

The primary uses of CTC and TCA within Iranian industry are as follows:
• dry-cleaning/spot removal
• cleaning of electronics assemblies
• cleaning of precision/optical components
• cleaning of certain other metal components

as well as, to a lesser extent, for the following (non-exhaustive) purposes:
• drying of components
• carriage of special lubricants
• leak and crack detection for checking of e.g. fuel tanks, non destructive testing
• dissolving of greases in laboratory testing
• mould release agent carriage
• yarn cleaner

CTC is commonly used as a solvent in metal cleaning, textile spot removal, etc. Usage of CTC is in some paints, adhesives, printing ink, laboratory analyses etc.

The project will also enable the Islamic Republic of Iran to meet its Montreal Protocol obligations in the solvent sector.