News
REFRIGERANT PHASEDOWN
IN SA REACHES HFCS
By Benjamin Brits
The DFFE hosted a workshop in July inviting all HFC stakeholders to engage on the point-setting and planning for this next stage of reducing or removing certain gasses in industry .
Well into the phase down / out of hydrochlorofluorocarbon ( HCFC ), the Department of Forestry , Fisheries and the Environment ( DFFE ) has started the process to establish the way forward for the phase down / out of hydrofluorocarbons ( HFC ), which is the developed replacement for HCFCs . This process is aligned to the legal obligations , as signed by South Africa , to the Montreal Protocol and subsequent Kigali Ammendment . Several industry sectors that may form a part of the phasedown / out of gasses with either high ozone depleting potential ( ODP ) or global warming potential ( GWP ) that would need to provide input to the process were invited to participate , however primarily only HVAC & R roleplayers engaged at this critical sitting with around 15 sector stakeholders getting involved in-person and joining online from around the country . This proportion was not surprising as over 79 % of all HFCs in the country were reported to be allocated to the HVAC & R industry . The proceedings were chaired by Ms Margaret Molefe – acting chief director : Chemicals and Waste Management at the Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment . Various guiding information and examples were presented to participants as well as data sets of consumption and trends of HFCs in order to determine the appropriate formulas and focus areas for the HFC phasedown / out management plan .
The dialogue for the workshop included several elements around establishing the baseline approach , quota allocations and licencing , and further recommendations and comments about shortfalls such as inconsistent data from industry versus South African Revenue Services import figures , management of non-used quotas and standard measure reporting from all stakeholders that is aligned to the secretariat .
Another very important aspect that was brought to the fore was the dire need to set in motion the reclamation , recycling and reuse ( RRR ) process of refrigerants in South Africa that has not seen any movement for many years but will be an essential factor in future as the phasedown of HCFC too edges closer to day zero .
Some of the outcomes of the process may include either of the following suggested to be practical and achievable as a starting point :
• Targeting of any refrigerant with a GWP of over X value ( EU as an example has a ban on 2500 + GWP refrigerants )
• Consideration of a limit of potential CO 2 e equivalent tonnes vs each allowable refrigerant in SA
• Limiting the amount of HFC entering the country ( and being exported to neighbouring countries )
• Setting a date whereafter certain HFCs cannot be used in new installations or for servicing ( or a staggered approach ).
Several avenues will continue to be explored by the DFFE in terms of awareness and progress reporting , however the message was clear that quotas cannot be exceeded and the process will continue regardless . It was therefore urged that all stakeholders begin their preparations now for the changes that will be seen in the near future .
Should you wish to engage directly or require more information around existing data and reports , please contact Mr Gift Molokwane : GMolokwane @ dffe . gov . za or Ms Lutendo Ndhlovu : LNdhlovu @ environment . gov . za RACA
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I September 2022 7