INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
ASSOCIATIONS
BOTSWANA ' S ACHIEVEMENTS , CHALLENGES , AND FUTURE PLANS
The Botswana representative shared the country ’ s progress and challenges in phasing out HCFCs and implementing sustainable refrigeration practices .
Botswana is currently in Stage 2 of its HCFC Phase-out Management Plan ( HPMP ), focusing on reducing its reliance on HCFCs . As of 2020 , the country achieved a 35 % reduction in HCFC consumption , which is on track with its set targets . However , Botswana has not yet submitted its Kigali Implementation Plan ( KIP )— a necessary step to phase down HFCs under the Kigali Amendment . The KIP is expected to be submitted by May 2025 , with the delay seen as a positive development that will incorporate valuable insights from the local industry .
Most of Botswana ’ s HCFCs are imported from South Africa and China , with South Africa being the main supplier . As South Africa has gradually reduced its HCFC imports , this has created challenges for Botswana ’ s industry , which relies heavily on South African refrigerants . This growing concern is one of the key challenges facing Botswana in meeting its HCFC phase-out goals .
Botswana has established a strong regulatory framework to manage refrigerant imports and ensure compliance with international phase-out targets . The country operates a licensing and quota system for refrigerants , ensuring that only approved quantities are imported into the country . The Botswana National Ozone Unit ( NOU ) collaborates closely with South Africa and Zambia to authenticate refrigerant permits and ensure compliance , which is critical for strengthening regional efforts to meet phase-out goals .
Additionally , Botswana continues to engage with various national and regional stakeholders , including the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association of Botswana ( RAAB ) and SADC RAC . These meetings focus on identifying further opportunities for collaboration , including consultations with customs and other government bodies to ensure compliance with international refrigerant trade regulations .
As part of its long-term strategy to build capacity in the refrigeration sector , Botswana has donated training equipment to three centres of excellence in the country . These vocational training centres play a key role in preparing future technicians who will be essential in maintaining refrigeration systems and ensuring the success of the HCFC phase-out .
Botswana is also planning to establish a refrigerant recovery centre , inspired by South Africa ’ s effective refrigerant recovery systems . The new recovery infrastructure will be complemented by the distribution of recovery units to industry players .
CHALLENGES FACED BY BOTSWANA
While Botswana has made significant progress , the country faces several challenges . One of the primary obstacles is limited resources , which impact the Botswana NOU . The NOU often struggles to meet the demands of industry associations due to financial and personnel constraints . Moreover , there are instances where companies request permits for refrigerants only after the goods have arrived at the port of entry , creating delays in processing these requests . Despite these challenges , the NOU strives to expedite the process and support industry compliance as much as possible .
Looking ahead , Botswana has several key priorities :
• Finalising the gender study : The outcomes of the gender study will inform strategies to increase female participation in the refrigeration sector .
• Continued collaboration : Botswana plans to host more joint border dialogues with neighbouring countries , strengthening regional cooperation on refrigerant phaseout and improving coordination across borders .
• Engagement in Multilateral Fund opportunities : Botswana is exploring opportunities to collaborate with other SADC countries on Multilateral Fund projects , which aim to support energy efficiency and refrigerant recovery .
• Refrigerant recovery : Botswana will continue efforts to set up its refrigerant recovery centre and distribute recovery units to the industry to ensure compliance with the Montreal Protocol .
Through these initiatives , Botswana aims to further strengthen its efforts in refrigerant management and align with regional and international commitments . The country ' s active participation in regional initiatives , such as the Refrigeration Without Borders project , ensures that it remains on track with broader SADC objectives and the global effort to phase out HCFCs and HFCs .
ESWATINI ' S PROGRESS IN ACHIEVING KIGALI AMENDMENT GOALS
Next up , Tamia Jamini , head of eSwatini ' s NOU , provided a detailed update on the country ' s progress in phasing out harmful refrigerants like HCFCs and HFCs , in line with the Montreal and Kigali Amendments . eSwatini ’ s efforts are led by its NOU , which coordinates the country ’ s compliance with international protocols and fosters collaboration among a diverse range of stakeholders — government bodies , industry , academia and the public . The NOU ’ s approach reflects the importance of working across sectors , as
Part of an earlier presentation by Manyukwa on natural refrigerants .
cooling technologies affect everyone in society . As Jamini aptly noted , “ Cooling touches everyone ,” highlighting the need for coordinated efforts to transition to climate-friendly cooling practices . In addition to national coordination , eSwatini ’ s NOU is an active participant in regional and international collaborations . The country engages with various implementing agencies and regional bodies , such as SADC RAC , to align its phase-out efforts with both national development goals and international commitments .
“ eSwatini has made notable progress in phasing out ozone-depleting substances ( ODS ) and reducing greenhouse gas emissions . A standout achievement is the transition away from HCFCs , with a local manufacturer , Power Fridge , now producing refrigeration equipment that is both ozone- and climate-friendly . The company has successfully switched from HCFCs and HFCs to hydrocarbons like cyclopentane and R-32 , which have a lower environmental impact .
“ Currently , eSwatini is fully compliant with the Montreal Protocol ’ s ODS phase-out targets . While older systems that still use HCFCs pose a challenge , the country remains confident that these systems will soon be phased out , leaving only sustainable , hydrocarbonbased refrigeration systems in operation ,” says Jamini .
To align with the Kigali Amendment ’ s call for a phased reduction of HFCs the country has updated its national regulations to include a phasedown of HFCs . Key legislative changes include :
• A ban on importing HCFC- and HFC-dependent equipment starting in January 2025 , which will reduce demand for these substances
• End-user declarations to track and verify the use of refrigerants , ensuring compliance with national quotas
• Strengthened laws governing refrigerant handling and transportation , especially for hydrocarbons
These regulations are set to be approved soon and will significantly impact both the importation of refrigerants and the demand for HFC- and HCFC-dependent equipment in Eswatini .
TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
A core component of eSwatini ’ s phase-out strategy is building local capacity through training programmes for technicians . Over the past four years , more than 120 technicians have been trained to handle modern , environmentally friendly refrigerants . This initiative ensures that the workforce is preparing to meet
the increasing demand for sustainable refrigeration solutions .
Despite progress , eSwatini faces challenges in providing more comprehensive training on hydrocarbon refrigerants , which require specialised handling . The NOU remains committed to addressing this gap , ensuring that technicians are fully equipped to manage these new refrigerants safely and effectively . eSwatini ’ s NOU also plays a critical enforcement role through a licensing and quota system that regulates refrigerant imports . The ASYCUDA system — a customs declaration system — links importers to the NOU , enabling efficient tracking and monitoring of refrigerant imports . Collaboration between the NOU and customs authorities ensures that only legally-approved refrigerants are imported , helping to prevent illegal imports and improving data collection for reporting purposes . eSwatini recognises the importance of regional collaboration in achieving the Kigali Amendment goals . The country has worked closely with South Africa to establish refrigerant recovery and recycling centres , an effort that is now being expanded within eSwatini . The establishment of five such centres will allow for the collection , reuse and recycling of refrigerants , thereby reducing environmental waste and supporting
the country ’ s commitments under the Montreal Protocol .
COLD LINK AFRICA • March / April 2025 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za 17