Report: Harmful gas emissions reduced by 86pc

Mwanza. Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has been commended for playing a major role in the country’s sky-high leap success to curb ozone depleting substances (ODS).

In collaboration with other stakeholders, the institution has managed to reduce the ODS by 86 per cent by 2009, according to a report released on Thursday by experts from the Vice President’s Office during a meeting with environment stakeholders in the city.

As unveiled by Peter Nyang’ombe, an industrial expert from the ministry, until 1999, Tanzania used about 254 tonnes of ozone depleting substances per year but the tonnage has been reduced to only 35.76 annually by 2009, reflecting a 86-per cent drop.

Gas products used as refrigerants, aerosol, air conditioners, were named to be the main destroyers of ozone layer, according to Mr Nyang’ombe.

“The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) did a commendable job in collaboration with the police, immigration and Tanzania Bureau of Standards to ensure Tanzania is protected from harmful substances,” he said.

The drop, according to him, has also been attributed to changes in production technologies by many local industries as well as installation of ozone-friendly equipment in major urban centres.

The equipment includes air cooling systems and alternative chemicals whose application have minimum effect to ozone’s thin layer on the atmosphere which protects the earth from the harmful sun radiation.

The local industries were also technically boosted to ensure they produce ozone friendly materials. Beneficiaries include Mansoor Daya, Ply Foam and Pan African Enterprises.

“It is our hope that other factories will opt for the alternative technologies and chemicals which would not deplete ozone as per regulations under the Montreal convention,” he added.

Ozone depletion has been blamed on large-scale release of chemical compounds, notably chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and bromofluorocarbons, through man-made activities.

The chemicals are not easily degradable. Experts say the breakdown of ozone in the atmosphere results in the ozone molecules being unable to absorb ultra-violet radiation.

Ms Adelina Shillinde from TRA said, the national programme on Montreal Convention targets capacity building for institutions which oversee the process.