Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has directed all environmental clearance bodies to not approve any new or additional HFC production projects after December 31, 2027, in line with India’s obligations under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
Key Directives
- No additional HFC production capacity to be permitted beyond 31 December 2027.
- Any HFC production capacity already granted Environmental Clearance cannot commence production beyond 31.12.2027.
- Fresh applications for new/expanded EC for HFC production must include an undertaking that installation and commissioning will be completed on or before December 31, 2027.
- Order addressed to State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs), State Level Expert Appraisal Committees (SEACs) and the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), the technical body that evaluates project proposals for environmental impacts and recommends whether to grant or deny clearance.
HFCs Produced in India
Currently, India mainly produces HFC-32, HFC-134a and HFC-125, primarily used in:
- Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning sector
- Fire Extinguisher sector
Note: Kigali obligations apply only to controlled applications. Feedstock uses (as raw material for manufacturing other chemicals with negligible emissions) are exempted under Montreal Protocol provisions.
HFC Baseline Calculation
India’s HFC baseline will comprise:
- Average HFC production and consumption for 2024, 2025 and 2026 + 65% of average HCFC-22 production and consumption between 2009–2010
India’s HFC Phase-Down Schedule
- Freeze — January 1, 2028
- 10% reduction — 2032
- 20% reduction — 2037
- 30% reduction — 2042
- 85% reduction — 2047
About Montreal Protocol (1987)
- International treaty to phase out Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) for protection of the ozone layer.
- Implemented under the Vienna Convention (1985).
- Substances Covered: CFCs, HCFCs and Halons.
- Universally ratified by 1992 — operates on the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR).
About Kigali Amendment (2016)
- Adopted in 2016 as an amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
- Requires parties to phase down production and consumption of HFCs.
- India ratified the Kigali Amendment in September 2021.
- HFCs were introduced as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODS) but despite being ozone-friendly, they have very high Global Warming Potential (GWP: 12–14,000).
- Global target — reduce HFCs by 80–85% by the late 2040s.
Key Scientific Context
- Stratospheric ozone (found at 10–40 km above Earth’s surface) protects Earth from UV radiation.
- ODS are human made chemicals containing chlorine and bromine (like CFCs) that reach the stratosphere and destroy ozone through catalytic reactions.
- HFCs in general do not deplete ozone but have extremely high GWP, making them potent greenhouse gases.