Press Releases

INEOS Fluor and Navin Fluorine International Limited have reached agreement on a significant abatement project to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by over 2m Tonnes of CO2 (e). It is expected that the technology will be operational by the middle of next year.

The project, will be filed for consideration by the Indian Government tomorrow, before it is submitted to the Executive Board of the of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) for inclusion in the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. 

When completed the Navin CDM project, will prevent the emission of a bi-product (HFC23) from its production of refrigerant (hydrofluorochlorocarbon 22) at Bhestan, Surat, India. By introducing abatement technology the companies will achieve real, verifiable reductions in emissions that it hopes to trade on Emissions Trading Markets around the world. To validate the Project Design Document (PDD) ahead of its submission to the CDM Executive board of UNFCCC, the company has appointed DNV as its Designated Operating Entity (DOE).

“This is a significant project that will lead to measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions”, commented Vinesh Sadekar, Managing Director Navin Fluorine International Limited. “The Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol has provided an opportunity for us to invest in reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions and participate in Carbon Emission Trading Markets that will be good for the company and the environment.” 

“We are pleased to have completed the first step by submitting our Project Design Document (PDD) for the approval of the Government. Working with INEOS Fluor as the partners and project participants we are confident that we will be able to meet the stringent requirements of the Executive Board of the UNFCCC, to register the project and begin trading by the middle of next year.”

Following Registration of the project both companies will receive Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) from the UNFCCC. Both companies will then be able to offer these for sale on Emissions Trading Markets. 

“We are extremely pleased that we have been able to come to an agreement with Navin to take this important project forward,” said Dave McGreal European Commercial Manager, INEOS Fluor. “INEOS has been at the forefront of the CDM process since receiving approval for the first methodology AM0001 in 2003. This is the third project that we have been involved in and we will be making full use of our expertise as we work closely with Navin.”

CDM allows industrialised countries to provide investment in developing countries (non annex 1) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CDM Executive Board of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change provide Credit for these emissions which can be traded on the open market to help companies involved in these projects to offset the cost of the initial investment. 

For further information contact:

Richard Longden - INEOS Fluor Limited
Phone: +44 1928 513064 
Email: richard.longden@ineosfluor.com 

Vinesh Sadekar, Managing Director NAVIN Fluorine Internatonal Ltd. 
Phone: +91 22 24040404
Email: vinesh.sadekar@nfil.in

Partha Roychowdhury. Navin Fluorine International Limited. 
Phone: +91 222 4040404. 
Email: partha.roychowdhury@nfil.in

Note to editors:

To help reduce the cost of meeting the commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions three market-based “flexible mechanisms” were designed namely Emissions Trading, Joint Implementation and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Although different in operation, the three mechanisms are based on the same principle that industrialised countries be allowed to reduce emissions wherever in the world those reductions are cheapest, and then count those reductions towards their national target. CDM allows industrialised countries to provide investment in developing countries (non annex 1) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CDM Executive Board of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change provide Credit for these emissions which can be traded on the open market to help to companies involved in these projects to offset the cost of the initial investment. 

Navin Fluorine International Limited has operated a HCFC 22 plant in Bhestan, Surat, India since 1967. The plant produces HCFC 22 as refrigerant. A by-product of this process is HFC 23, which has traditionally been vented to atmosphere. Navin will use thermal oxidation of HFC 23 to destroy this by-product. This system in combination with the existing HCFC plant will enable Navin to avoid HFC 23 emissions. It will also give economic and technical benefits to the region as well as contributing to sustainable development, the promotion of which is an explicit mandate of CDM.

Hydrofluorocarbon 23 (HFC 23) is a potent greenhouse gas, if emitted to atmosphere. HFC 23 as a bi-product is a feature of all hydrochlorofluorocarbon 22 (HCFC 22) manufacturing facilities. HCFC 22 is a key material that is used in refrigeration and as a feedstock for PTFE. The emission of HFC 23 can be prevented but investment in technology is required. 

Navine Fluorine International is a part of the Arvind Mafatlal Group. Established in 1967 the company operates the India’s largest integrated fluorochemicals complex, which produces a range of over 40 fluorochemicals on its multipurpose plants and technologies. Manufacturing to ISO 9002 the company is also has accreditation to ISO 14001 Environment standards. 

INEOS Fluor, is a world leading specialities business built on expertise and innovation in fluorine chemistry. The company is focused on the supply of fluorine-based products, technology and services across a number of major industries from pharmaceuticals to automotive, speciality polymers to refrigeration and air-conditioning. It has manufacturing facilities at Runcorn in the UK, Mihara Japan and St Gabriel in the United States. The company employs around 400 people worldwide. Its knowledge and understanding of reducing emissions from fluorochemical manufacturing facilities, monitoring and reporting put it in a strong position to partner companies seeking to improve their own environmental performance.