Cold Link Africa Cold Link Africa_Sept_digital | Page 20

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
awareness and getting as much input as
possible to assist in the HCFC phase out
and looming HFC phase down.
Attendance in Durban included
role players from the HVAC&R
industry; municipalities; national and
provincial government departments;
learning institutions (both lecturers and
students); industry associations, non-
profit organisations, as well as HVAC&R
industry experts. The level of participation
was outstanding, and attendees
recommended that other cities must be
visited as well.
At the Durban roadshow, various
issues were raised by attendees, and
service technicians indicated the need
for public awareness and training
on good refrigeration practice. They
requested more information on how the
DEA is planning to obtain unregistered/
informal service technicians.
Other issues raised included the lack
of in-service training opportunities within
the HVAC&R sector. There was a request
for the figures relating to the current
HFC consumption in the country. The
group also discussed the status of the
ratification of the Kigali Amendment and
the future of HFC in the country (looking
at any regulation and the phase down/
out of certain refrigerants).
The viability of the proposed
reclamation facilities was discussed at
20
length. Stakeholders recommended that
government should provide incentives to
encourage industry to take refrigerants
for reclamation.
South Africa
has close to
9 000 servicing
technicians
who need to
be upskilled to
minimise the
safety risk.
PORT ELIZABETH: 19 JUNE
Attendance at the Port Elizabeth roadshow
was lower than expected, but the
delegates participated in lively debate
on many of the issues raised, in particular
training and registration of technicians,
reports John Ackermann. Held at the
Summerstrand Hotel, the venue offered
all the comforts with a spacious exhibition
area adjacent to the meeting room.
Instead of breaking away into
groups for the three commissions, all the
delegates were addressed on the major
themes of the commissions, with Obed
The Article 5 countries’ (which include South Africa) HPMP and ODS phase-out schedule.
Baloyi as the chairperson. As in many
other industry forums, the possible phase
out of disposa refrigerant cylinders in
South Africa drew much discussion.
The final session after the lunch break
focused on recovery and recycling.
Ronald Viskil of the Netherlands
emphasised that to gain wider
acceptance in the industry, there must
be financial reward. “To make it work,
there must be money to be made in
recovery and recycling.”
Delegates were informed that one
of the pilot sites for the portable reclaim
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
systems, sponsored under the MP, would
most likely be located at Afrox in Port
Elizabeth.
CAPE TOWN: 21 JUNE
The Lagoon Beach Hotel in Milnerton, with
its breathtaking view of Table Mountain
and Robben Island, was the perfect
setting to remind the large number of
delegates of the importance to save the
natural resources of our planet for future
generations, reports John Ackermann. A
small display of services and products at
the rear of the large meeting room drew
COLD LINK AFRICA • September 2018