EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Refrigerant reclamation study
tour to Argentina and Mexico
Earlier this year, various HVAC&R industry stakeholders embarked on a study
tour to Argentina and Mexico to learn from these developing countries how to
implement refrigerant reclamation.
rom 29 January to 11 February 2018, have been taken to ensure proper and
the Department of Environmental effective controls are in place. This includes
Affairs’ (DEA’s) National Ozone Unit the regulations for the phasing out and
(NOU), together with various local HVAC&R management of ODSs (8 May 2014,
stakeholders (including the Department Government Gazette No. 37621); permitting
of Labour, A-Gas, Acon, DEA Air Quality, systems; and quarterly HCFC stakeholder
and Capricorn College), embarked meetings to enable consultative processes
on a refrigerant reclamation study tour with updates.
organised by the United Nations Industrial
To give effect to the milestones outlined in
Development Organisation (UNIDO) in our country’s HPMP, it was resolved through
Argentina and Mexico. the quarterly sittings that a study tour be
The aims of the study tour were to take
undertaken to give us a picture of how
advantage of lessons learnt by other other nations have rolled out the refrigerant
developing nations similar to South Africa reclamation project and allocated the
in regard to refrigerant reclamation; to reclamation machines in various regions.
exchange information; and to look into Through the benchmarking, we also intended
legislative matters, the success stories, to find workable solutions to some of the grey
and associated challenging moments. areas upon our return to the country.
Furthermore, the group engaged with the
local NOUs in the respective countries.
South Africa (government and
The intention is to roll out the reclamation
project in the country and establish four
reclamation centres in various regions. We
industry) has made great strides towards believe that in the near future, refrigerant
implementing the HCFC Phase-out reclamation will play a critical role in the
Management Plan (HPMP) and Montreal HCFC phase-out. It is predicted that in a few
Protocol requirements for ozone depleting years, the demand for R22 could be greater
substances (ODSs). Numerous steps than the quantities that can be imported.
F
By Department of Environmental Affairs
The portable refrigerant reclamation machine purchased for South Africa.
The study tour was characterised by lengthy HCFCs, HPMP implementation, and other
travels to various recycling/reclamation related matters.
centres in both Argentina and Mexico, In Argentina, the group was joined by
networking, robust engagements, and the Ubajay Consultancy and they visited
the exchange of information. Information- the Giacomino Company in Buenos Aires,
sharing meetings were held with Argentina’s and Frigofer Company. Interestingly, the
and Mexico’s NOUs on the phasing out of Giacomino Company is owned and run by
A visit to a company in Mexico that dismantles refrigerators, and recovers and reclaims
the refrigerant.
Demonstration for the reclamation facility operation in Rosario, Argentina.
South African participants and Mexican NOU during the site visit at the reclamation
facility in Celaya, Mexico.
COLD LINK AFRICA • June 2018
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
31