UNDP plans to convert AC in Bangladesh to propane

On 5 August, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced it had prepared an HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan (Stage II) that will help five air-conditioning companies in Bangladesh convert from the high ozone- depleting-potential (ODP) and high global-warming-potential (GWP) HCFC R22 to the zero-ODP and low-GWP natural refrigerant propane (R290).

The proposed project grant will be $6 million and will be implemented through a 'Private Public Partnership modality'.

UNDP estimates that this will mean a reduction of around 25 tonnes of ozone emitted to the atmosphere and a CO₂ equivalent emissions reduction of about 879,806 tonnes annually from 2025 if the five companies move away from HCFCs.

UNDP has organised a total of 14 projects in Bangladesh to support the country in managing its ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). In 2014 it finished a project to convert the HCFC foam agent R141b to the zero-ODP and less than zero-GWP hydrocarbon foam agent cyclopentane at Walton Hi-tech Industries Ltd. in Dhaka. 

This resulted in an annual CO₂-equivalent emissions saving of 183.7 metric tonnes of HCFC-141b, from the manufacturing of refrigerator insulation foam as a blowing agent. 

Now the UN agency will help the Asian country put together a plan for the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which requires Bangladesh to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by roughly 80-85% by 2045. 

“This ratification will help the country to promote energy efficiency (30-40% beyond current levels in the RAC sector) and more climate-friendly cooling systems, to enhance access to global climate funds, and create opportunities to jump-start the transition to the lowest global-warming-potential cooling technology for Bangladesh,” said UNDP.