www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I June 2023 19
Business are currently collecting information about trainers in specific countries . We will train them first , and then they will be able to train others . Zambia has already asked me for data and information , and we will definitely train them . If it is worthwhile , then I can also go there . The local associations will work with the government to regulate the use of refrigerants . They will distribute recovery cylinders among contractors , who will use them and return them . Once they are full , the refrigerants will be removed from the country .”
Basson adds : “ We had a meeting with the Department of Environmental Affairs on 31 March , where we addressed the issue of legislation and regulations . We don ' t want to import CFCs into the country , and we just want to collect them and send them out for destruction since there is no destruction plant in Africa . This latter point is because it is not cost-effective – there is not constant round-the-year work for one , and it would be costly to set one up . There are some destruction plants in other countries that can be used . The main drive behind this initiative is that the industry can reclaim and clean the refrigerants and sell them back into the market , so that there is no need to manufacture virgin refrigerant .
“ We discussed the importance of contractors being responsible in what they do to prevent injuries caused by the mishandling of refrigerants . We need to be responsible and proactive to prevent accidents and environmental damage caused by CFCs . We must recover them and ensure they are disposed of properly . There have been serious injuries and deaths caused by the mishandling of Hydro Carbon and other flammable refrigerants , so it ' s essential that we act urgently to prevent this from happening .
“ During the conference in Namibia , one contractor mentioned having a chiller with five tons of R12 ( CFC ) that needed to be recovered and saved from destruction . Without such action , someone could accidentally release the refrigerant into the atmosphere . The urgency of training people to handle refrigerants safely is highlighted by the deaths of five people in Nigeria last year due to mishandling refrigerants ,” says Basson .
The Department of Environment Forestry and Fisheries in South Africa aims to train technicians and informal workers on safe refrigerant handling , with a goal of training 2 000 people , 402 were already trained in 2022 . “ The training material and practical resources are available , but the governments in the SADC Region need to take a proactive role in enforcing safe refrigerant handling . The initiative also aims to promote entrepreneurship among technicians by teaching them how to run a Rerigeration & Air-conditioning business . This will help grow the refrigeration industry , which is crucial to the economy of many countries in the region .”
He describes the next milestone as being to get all countries to handle refrigerants safely and to buy into the initiative .
Thereafter the objective is to train technicians , with a focus on entrepreneurship . It ' s important for governments to understand the significance of the refrigeration industry in their countries and work together to regulate it . While there are associations representing the industry , government involvement is necessary to ensure that regulation is effective ,” concludes Basson . RACA
SADC RAC Association Leadership at the Conference in Windhoek , from left to right : Pious Chinyama , Caign Manyukwa ( president ), Parastus Nepolo ( vice president ), Phill Masendeke , Mopati Maseko , Hennie Basson ( secretary general ).
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I June 2023 19