Minister of Natural Resources Energy and Mining, Bintony Kutsaira, yesterday participated in a discussion on the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in Rome, Italy.
Addressing the members, Kutsaira expressed concern over the limit introduction and use of sustainable cold chain with Low Global Warming Potential (GWP) in most sub-saharan countries including Malawi.
Kutsaira cited capacity constraints to handle cold chains that uses low GWP energy efficient technologies, as one of the barriers affecting developing countries in cold chain management.
He however said for Malawi, government is promoting enabling policies that promote and encourage communities to switch altenative energy efficient in the cooling sector.
“In an attempt to promote expansion of cold chains in rural areas, where post harvest food loss is high, government of Malawi is implementing a rural electrification project to enable producers in the rural areas to preserve their commodities” Kutsaira said.
The objective of the high level round table discussion was to explore key role of cold chains in the implementation of 2030 agenda and to develop synegies between the Montreal Protocol bodies and working to end food waste and loss among other things.
The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone- depleting substances.
