INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
Durban Durban Durban
Noluzuko Gwayi of DEA( left) with Gloria Chetty of UNIDO, who played a big role in organising the roadshows.
Obed Baloyi of DEA welcoming everyone to the Durban roadshow.
Natasha Kochova of UNIDO came all the way from Macedonia to give a global perspective on the phase out of ozone depleting substances( ODSs).
Nangolo shared some of the activities of Namibia’ s NOU and how they have been assisting with the phase out of HCFCs and the phase down of HFCs. She covered their efforts in terms of training and awareness initiatives, also taking attendees through how Namibia’ s quota permit system works and the work done by their customs.
On the customs topic, she expressed a need for closer relations with South Africa to minimise illegalities across the border post.“ We want a south-tosouth co-operation with South Africa to allow better enforcement at the border posts,” said Nangolo.“ There is definitely an opportunity for strengthened cooperation between the countries.”
She concluded by proposing to perhaps have a shared destruction facility for the ODSs that currently cannot be disposed of safely and legally.
MEASURING MATTERS
Gerrie Coetzee of the South African Weather Service( SAWS) was next to the podium, giving a highly technical talk about his company’ s work over the years in terms of keeping watch over the ozone layer.
Port Elizabeth
Delegates from Nelson Mandela University were also at the roadshow, from left: Adrian Williams; Graham Petro; and Rudolf Wagg.
Port Elizabeth
SAQCC( Gas) exhibited at the roadshow. From left: Barney Richardson, Jeanette Richardson, and Dumsile Virginia Mtshali.
Port Elizabeth
Local stakeholders at the PE roadshow, from left: Peter Pretorius( Cooling Excellence Refrigeration); Richard de Vos( Air-Tek Manufacturing); Allan Gaia( Kovco); and Stephan Boshoff( Air-Tek Manufacturing).
He gave an introduction and background on the ozone and what they measure, explaining a bit more of the science behind our atmosphere. Coetzee spoke about how exactly the measurement is done and how they go about gathering and interpreting the data that they have been collecting over the past 40 years. He showed some of the tools they use to measure and explained briefly how they work.“ You cannot manage what you don’ t measure.”
According to Coetzee, they have been measuring an increase in HFC lately and that is of concern to him and his team.
Another issue is that there is scientific evidence that CFC11( R11) is on the rise again from an unknown source. But he said that scientific investigations will focus on finding the source before any more damage can be done by this harmful substance.
Coetzee concluded by urging everyone that there is still a lot of work to be done, even though we have come a long way.“ We cannot be complacent, even if the MP is a global success story.”
THE SOUTH AFRICAN STORY Before the tea break that was to be followed by the three breakaway commission sessions, Margaret Molefe( director of hazardous chemical management at DEA) did a presentation on South Africa’ s own HPMP and the future of the HFC phase down locally.
She spoke about what the department, along with various other stakeholders and industry, has achieved so far. This covered the regulations as well as customs training and the plans for more training.
Molefe’ s talk also covered monitoring and enforcement, explaining that as we do not manufacture refrigerants in South Africa, we are highly dependent on importers for data and the management of ODSs. She showed that we have 19 refrigerant importers currently, with a large quantity of R134a being imported.
Government reiterates its commitment to protect and defend industry interests whilst contributing to global efforts on the phasing down of HFCs.
She also spoke about the plan for updated regulations and the way forward, before moving on to the topic of the Phakisa initiatives.
Molefe expressed concern regarding the training of servicing technicians in the sector, especially informal technicians.
COLD LINK AFRICA • September 2018 www. coldlinkafrica. co. za 15