Tunisia is enhancing its strategy to eliminate greenhouse gases from the cooling sector by banning the import and manufacture of certain equipment using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from January 1, 2027. This move is part of the country's commitment to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The banned equipment includes split home air conditioners, cooled water dispensers, household freezers, and refrigerators that use HFCs.
The draft decree, prepared by the Tunisian authorities, specifies that the national production of split home air conditioners will exclusively use R-32, a more environmentally friendly and efficient refrigerant, starting from 2027. R-32 is considered a good alternative due to its low environmental impact and ease of recycling. This transition is expected to significantly reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
Tunisia has already frozen its national consumption of HFCs since January 1, 2024, in accordance with the Kigali Amendment. The country's industrial sector has also made progress in reducing its environmental impact. For instance, the conversion of the production line of cooled water dispensers to a natural refrigerant at Sicad Coala in August 2026 is expected to avoid at least 5,720 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions annually.
According to the Tunisian authorities, the country has made significant progress in reducing its consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). By the end of 2025, Tunisia had reduced its HCFC consumption by 70% compared to the reference level, resulting in a reduction of 917,670 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions. The country aims to completely phase out HFCs by January 1, 2030.
To support the final phase of the HFC phase-out, the Tunisian government has secured funding from the Multilateral Fund and the Italian government. The third phase of the HCFC management plan, covering the period 2026-2030, has been approved with a budget of $1.33 million, supplemented by a $350,000 contribution from Italy. The program also includes a component on capacity building, with training provided to 52 technicians in 2026 on the safe handling of natural and non-flammable refrigerants.
The Kigali Amendment, which came into effect in 2016, aims to reduce global HFC consumption by 80-85% by 2047. If implemented alongside energy efficiency improvements, the amendment is expected to prevent around 1°C of global warming by the end of the century. Tunisia's efforts to phase out HFCs and transition to more environmentally friendly refrigerants are seen as a crucial step towards achieving this goal.
The Tunisian government's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment has been reinforced through its participation in international agreements such as the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment. The country's progress in phasing out HFCs and HCFCs demonstrates its determination to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable development.
Key points
- Tunisia to ban import and manufacture of certain cooling equipment using hydrofluorocarbons from 2027
- Country aims to completely phase out hydrofluorocarbons by January 1, 2030
- Tunisia secures funding to support final phase of hydrofluorocarbon phase-out
