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Journalism of Courage
PUNE, Nov 30: Godrej-GE Appliances is already well ahead of its schedule to phase out CFC and change over to eco-friendly refrigerant gases and foaming agents for its refrigerators. The shift is expected to be achieved by 1999, Vijay M Crishna, managing director, Godrej-GE stated here.
"We will be implementing the changeover by 1999 and certain models will be shifted to the new eco-friendly technology and will be available by mid 1999, he revealed.
While all efforts are being taken to keep costs down, the cost increase as a result of this changeover could range between two to seven per cent, Crishna said. Even as the alternative for the foaming agents has been finalized the company has yet to decide on the variety of refrigerant gases to be used. The choice would either be R134A and isobutane (R600), a hydrocarbon. US companies have shifted to R134A and European companies have chosen isobutane. Godrej was delaying the decision because it had to keep in mind the high degree of care needed at both manufacturing and service centres while dealing with isobutane as it was highly inflammable. On the other hand R134A will have to be phased out after three to four years, he explained.
Godrej-GE is carrying out its own research to make a final decision and is also working with the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune on the `ecofridge project’. NCL is the agency coordinating the `ecofridge project’ initiated by the German and Swiss governments.
On the performance of the white goods industry Crishna revealed that the year had been bad and in particular the downslide in the month of November was disconcerting. Unseasonal rainfall and uncertain political climate had affected consumer confidence. Unutilised capacities especially in the washing machine segment was nearly 40 to 45 per cent with demand not picking up as expected in this segment.
