30 May 2014: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office for Asia Pacific, in cooperation with the Governments of China and Japan, is assisting the Government of Mongolia with a national assessment of hydrochlorofluorocarbon-22 (HCFC-22) in the extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam sector. A joint mission to Mongolia on 23-25 April 2014 provided high-level support and advice to the Government on achieving compliance with the Montreal Protocol.

According to OzoNews, under Mongolia’s HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP), two XPS foam companies were to convert to non-HCFC technologies, through funding from the Multilateral Fund. However, due to high costs of technology transfer, as well as continued high demand for XPS foams, neither firms was able to convert to non-HCFC technologies.

The high-level assistance mission reviewed the impact of non-compliance and suggesting possible approaches for compliance. [UNEP ROAP Website] [OzoNews Press Release]