Events and Exhibitions
followed by a second possible project with the inclusion of
formal sector technicians.” The UNIDO funded training will
form part of a recognised qualification if the trainee wishes
to continue at a later stage. The project seeks to address “the
readiness of service technicians’ skills with regards to the
usage of hydrocarbons,” said Kochova. The revised training
programme, already approved by the Quality Council for
Trades and Occupations (QCTO), will include additional
qualifications like hydrocarbon, ammonia and CO 2 mechanics.
“Disparities between training providers need to be
addressed as a matter of urgency,” Laidlaw said. He
recommended that South Africa level the playing field so that
they all have equal skills and training to perform the different
tasks needed in the industry.
Sanchez-Guevara was sceptical about the success of the
UNIDO project to train the 200 persons from the informal
sector. “Manufacturers would need to provide all the equipment
needed by the 200 for the training. There would also have to
be regular follow ups in the field afterwards to ensure that they
practised as trained and still had the equipment. They would
also need to be reimbursed for the loss of revenue during the
training.” UNIDO gave the assurance that such funding was
included in the project budget.
20
RACA Journal I March 2020
Hennie Basson, SARACCA Western Cape chairman, highlighted
many challenges facing those wanting to obtain a formal
qualification in AC&R. “There are no facilities for proper trade
tests to be done in ammonia, CO 2 or hydrocarbons. There are
many in the field that have qualifications but are not competent.
Most TVET colleges are far behind in the training needed by the
AC&R sector.”
He proposed that industry fund a container equipped with
what is required for the mentioned trade tests and this be moved
between the different TVET colleges encouraging industry to get
involved. Retired industry veteran, Harry Blaxall suggested that
equipment suppliers sell their product with a full maintenance
plan similar to that in the automobile industry. This trend would
create the demand for competent and qualified mechanics.
THE WORLD MAKING A CHANGE
Kochova outlined the important role of refrigerants in the
global economy. “Globally there are three-billion systems that
are charged with refrigerants (heat pumps, air conditioners,
refrigerated containers, commercial refrigeration systems)
and each also uses energy. Twenty-percent of the total world
electricity demand is coming from the need to meet the growth
of air conditioning electricity demand.”
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