Terminal Phase-out Management Plan under the Montreal Protocol
Phasing out of Methyl bromide at Les Moulins de la Concorde

The Ministry of Environment & NDU is coordinating the implementation of a project to phase-out Methyl bromide at Les Moulins de La Concorde (LMLC) under the Terminal Phase-out Management Plan. This project is being funded through technical assistance programme under the Multilateral Fund to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer to the extent of about US $ 40, 000.

The alternative chemical to methyl bromide, which will be used as a trial, is Profume (Sulphuryl Fluoride). It is an ozone friendly chemical. Its aim is to supplement to existing measures of integrated pest management to destroy eggs, larvae, pupae and insects present in stored flour to render it safe for consumption.

Under the technical assistance programme, a list of equipment and the chemical have been shipped by the DOW Agrosciences, USA in November and are expected to arrive in a the first week of December.

The trial exercise comprises fumigation of the flour mill and will be conducted under the guidance of foreign experts from DOW Agrosciences in the last week of December 2007. Hardy Henry Services Ltd has been appointed as the fumigator of Profume in the implementation process. Training would be given to technicians so as to enable the company to take over the next fumigation exercises on its own.

The trial of Profume as a fumigant would be the first of the type in the African region.