Havana, June 17 (RHC)-- Nelson Espinosa Pena, Director of Cuba's Ozone Technical Office, said that the country has entirely eradicated chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in commercial and domestic refrigeration, as well as those used in the manufacture of medical and industrial aerosols. The Cuban expert said that in accomplishing this, the country is fulfilling commitments made as a signatory of the Montreal Protocol on ozone depleting substances (ODS).

In his opening remarks at the CONTAT 2016 workshop, Espinosa Pena reported on progress made by Cuba in the elimination of ozone depleting substances (ODS).

The event, sponsored by the Meteorology Institute's Center for Research on Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry, is holding sessions at the headquarters of the Cuban Meteorology Society.

The director of the Cuban Ozone Technical Office offered a detailed explanation about the country's efforts to progressively reduce ODS, which include the complete elimination of methyl bromide in the fumigation of warehouses and in the cultivation of tobacco, coffee, ornamental plants, tomato, and other crops; the removal of carbon tetrachloride from laboratories; and the replacement of halon-based fire extinguishers, except on airplanes.

He further said that this significant effort required the modernization of industrial plants with the introduction of new ODS-free technology; the fabrication of new products with more environmentally friendly characteristics; training in best practices for refrigeration mechanics and technicians; and the development of alternative biological pest control methods in agriculture.

Cuba began the destruction of ODS in 2015 at a modern facility equipped with Japanese technology, located within the Siguaney cement plant in the province of Sancti Spíritus.