Page 18 - Climate Control News Magazine April 2021

Refrigerants Feature
EU black market thriving
LEFT: The biggest seizure of illegally traded HFCs to date came from Turkey.
The latest step in the HFC phase down was in January 2021 with a reduction of the quota from 63 per cent to 45 per cent compared to the level in 2015. A large amount of HFCs will be taken off the legitimate market in 2021, creating new op- portunities for smugglers to fill the gap.
If demand for HFCs stays the same and en- forcement doesn’t improve, the black market could double in size. Murli Sukhwani, general manager of fluorochemicals EMEA at the Chem- ours Company and Chair of EFCTC Data and In- vestigations, said there is a major discrepancy between the export volumes reported by China and the import volumes reported by the EU.
“THE PHASE DOWN OF HFCs HAS CREATED NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMUGGLERS”
“This could indicate that improved controls at European ports are having some effect, but that they could be driving smugglers to find new im- port routes via neighbouring countries. For ex- ample, the biggest seizure of illegally traded HFCs to date was stopped in August 2020 in Ro- mania, coming from Turkey,” he said.
NEW DATA RELEASED last month shows that an illegal market continues to bypass the Europe- an Union (EU) quota system in place since 2015.
This system was introduced to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with a high global warming potential (GWP). However, uneven en- forcement by member states has created an op- portunity for criminals to bypass the quota sys- tem and import HFCs into the EU illegally.
New data on this issue has been collected by Oxera Consulting LLP and analysed by EFTC (European Fluorocarbons Technical Commit- tee), a sector group of the European Chemical Industry Council.
Up to a maximum of 31 million tonnes CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e) could have entered through EU borders illegally in 2019. That means in 2018 and 2019, a total of a maximum of up to 73 MtCO2e could have been smuggled into the EU.
This is equivalent to the yearly emissions of more than 55 million cars – one fifth of all the cars on EU roads. This black market under- mines the EU’s climate goals, funds organ- ised crime and threatens small and medium- sized businesses across the EU which have invested to comply with the law and supply legitimate refrigerants.
Chemours splits fluoro products division
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY has announced a restructure of its fluoroproducts division.
It has been divided into two new reportable segments known as Thermal & Specialized Solu- tions (TSS) and Advanced Performance Materi- als (APM) formerly Fluoropolymers.
The company said this change will enable an enhanced customer centred approach, manage- ment focus and decision-making, strengthened resource allocation, and increased transparency and accountability.
Each business will be empowered to maxi- mize its full potential through continued in- vestments in innovation and technology that builds on Chemours' unmatched expertise across both unique product portfolios, lead- ing to strong long-term customer and share- holder value.
New leadership has been appointed to lead the TSS and APM segments and unlock the value in these businesses.
The former vice president of fluorochemicals, Alisha Bellezza, has been appointed president of
TSS while the former vice president for fluoro- polymers, Denise Dignam, has been appointed APM president.
Former president of fluoroproducts, Edwin (Ed) Sparks, has become president of titanium technologies following the retirement of Bryan Snell. He has retired after an impressive 42-year career in the chemical industry with DuPont and Chemours.
In addition to replacing Snell as president of titanium technologies, Sparks will also
continue as president of the chemical solu- tions business, which he has led since 2018. Chemours COO, Mark Newman, said the fluoroproducts business includes two highly customer-centred units that serve distinctly different customers with very specific needs. He said the decision to divide these new seg- ments will allow Chemours to capitalize on the unique market opportunities addressed by solu- tions from both units, while creating new growth
opportunities for customers.
CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU
Ed Sparks has retired after an impressive 42-year career.
Chemours COO, Mark Newman
APM president, Denise Dignam.
TSS president, Alisha Bellezza.
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