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News
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 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 phaseout 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, hydrocarbon-based 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.
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RACA Journal I June 2025 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za