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INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN

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Compliance has its issues By Andrew Perks I don’ t know about the readers, but I sometimes feel that life is just flashing by.

There has never been so much information available before, and it just keeps expanding at an exponential rate. This has a lot of positives but, I was born in the middle of the 20th century, and it makes my head spin.

As Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun, just different ways to do it.

Things have changed quite a lot since I first arrived in South Africa, back in the day when it was all about“ boer maak‘ n plan”. I loved it.

Back in the UK you were either this or you were that, not a lot of scope to do your thing. I arrived as a contracts engineer to be told“ oh by the way you are actually a project engineer”. When I enquired about my responsibilities I was told“ oh you do everything”. No doubt about it, straight into the deep end, no lifeline, just get on with it.

Coming from the UK there was always someone around to help. I soon found out we didn’ t have that luxury here. Things have changed over the years. We now have formalised ammonia training and accreditation, all leading to accountability, which is a good thing. South African National Standards are now in place levelling the playing fields which means a more standardised approach to project control and compliance with the applicable regulations.

My reason for broaching this subject this month is that we are becoming more and more involved in contractual compliance in the industry. Initially there were a lot of pushbacks on this when it was felt that we were out there trying to cause problems for the contractors. Far be it from that, in fact, by having a standard synergy with the SANS requirements we were making every one’ s life easier.

That said all designs and installations need to conform to SANS 10147 and SANS 347( pressure equipment regulations) which refers to the American standard ASME B31.5( Refrigeration Piping and Heat Transfer Components).

The general rule of installation needs to comply with the following:

• Material inspection of the piping and components prior to installation

• Welders test certificates are up to date and relevant to the codes

• Welding procedures of the company are reviewed by the AIA

• Design drawings signed off by a PR Eng and countersigned by the AIA

• AIA and client to witness the pressure test

• Optional 10 % RT on welds as part of the quality control procedure

• AIA to witness NDT reports( if pressure test is not possible, 100 % RT of welds is usually done. This would require a client’ s deferment letter)

• RT on all tie-in welds that cannot be pressure tested

• The AIA usually makes inspections throughout the installation process. This is to ensure that the installation is compliant prior to the insulation being applied to the piping( inspect for misalignment or illegal connections)

• Certificate of compliance to be issued by the contractor and signed by AIA

• Both the client and AIA will sign off on completion

The above, when followed, should ensure the legality of any installation, however, the onus will always be on the contractor and the AIA to ensure compliance.

Back in the day nobody ever followed these rules. We seemed to get by, but I feel that we have certainly made a move in the right direction. So often I hear comparisons between overseas standards and ours here in SA, I think I would rate our installations and designs on a par with most countries out there. We have some exceptional people in our industry.

Stay safe and see you next month. CLA

Andrew Perks is a subject expert in ammonia refrigeration. Since undertaking his apprenticeship in Glasgow in the 1960s he has held positions of contracts engineer, project engineer, refrigeration design engineer, company director for a refrigeration contracting company and eventually owning his own contracting company and low temperature cold store. He is now involved in adding skills to the ammonia industry, is merSETA accredited and has written a variety of unit standards for SAQA that define the levels to be achieved in training in our industry.

Mozambique disruptions highlight vital role of cold chain in food supply resilience By Paul Matthew, Global Cold Chain Alliance director for Africa

The essential role of temperature-controlled logistics in the resilience of food supply is often overlooked, however periods of serious disruption underline just how vital the cold chain service is.

The regional trade and supply route disruption that began as a result of political and security unrest in Mozambique in the latter months of 2024 has had significant implications for cold chain operations across Southern Africa, which have carried into 2025. The disturbance has seriously affected perishable food logistics and supply for Mozambique, and for its neighbours and trading partners too.

As we consider collectively how to minimise the risks and impacts of such disruptions in the future, it is crucial that the importance of temperature-controlled logistics for food supply chain resilience is recognised and prioritised in government policies and investment decisions.

With incidents of violence reported in the early stages of the post-election protests, the operations of a number of manufacturing, storage, and logistical companies were suspended completely or partially due to safety concerns. We received reports of vandalised refrigerated trucks, resulting in some cold chain businesses unable to safely send their vehicles into Mozambique in that period. There have also been examples of customers deciding not to reopen stores at all following vandalism.

Interruptions to road traffic had a severe effect on movement of temperature-controlled produce, especially closures of the N1 road which blocked the South-North movement of goods into and within the country. Circulation interruptions resulted in backlogs, including

at the Komatipoort-Ressano border when the Lebombo border post was closed temporarily, and at Maputo Port.

This port backlog created a risk of an influx above capacity into customers’ storage facilities because of bulk release of reefer containers and led to delays.

Food supply chain consequences of these disruptions have included delays in deliveries to supermarkets, lack of food on shelves, risks to the operation refrigeration equipment due to fuel concerns for generators, and increased logistics operating costs which ultimately leads to price increases for consumers.

The impacts of the post-election demonstrations in Mozambique have highlighted the vulnerabilities of day-today food supply, and the vital importance of building greater resilience into the food supply chain across Southern Africa. Investing in the development and growth of the cold chain network is fundamental to achieving this crucial improvement food supply chain resilience.

As the first line of defence against postharvest food loss, expanding the temperaturecontrolled storage and transportation network is fundamental to minimising perishable food spoilage in the event of supply chain disruptions. Growing the cold chain throughout Southern Africa will also enable expansions of, and greater efficiency within, supply and trade channels at local, regional, national and international levels – a development that would enable increased food availability and choice, boost the economy and increase resilience of food supply.

The cold chain can also play a crucial role in increasing Southern Africa’ s food supply chain resilience by enabling greater flows of temperature-controlled produce between countries. There is a compelling opportunity to increase trade of perishable goods within the continent as progress continues the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area( AfCFTA). An expanded African cold chain can also provide a gateway to the world for food and pharmaceutical importers and exporters. Both important benefits would help minimise the impacts on overall food supply of disruptions to individual supply routes.

Cold chain businesses and international investors alike are ready to invest in growing the cold chain across Africa. However, this growth and the transformation that it will bring for people, communities, the economy and the environment, can only be delivered if governments and regional development authorities recognise the opportunity and implement policies to support and encourage the necessary investments.

There are several key areas where governments and the African cold chain industry can work together to expand and develop temperature-controlled logistics across the continent. GCCA Africa is putting the case to governments across Southern Africa for a policy environment

Paul Matthew, Global Cold Chain Alliance director for Africa

that encourages investment into energy efficiency and on-site energy generation, and for greater public sector investment into infrastructure such as reefer plug-in points and transportation hubs across Africa’ s port network. We are also calling for a governmentindustry approach to training and skills that will help develop the pool of skilled people that will be needed to operate and maintain an expanding cold chain industry.

With the right policy environment in place, there is fantastic potential to grow and advance Africa ' s cold chain infrastructure which would improve healthcare, sustainable job creation and economic surety as well as bringing a substantial positive impact on food supply chain resilience when faced with disruptions of all kinds. CLA

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