www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I September 2025 11
Business
DFFE ' S ROADMAP FOR PHASING OUT GLOBAL WARMING SUBSTANCES IN HVAC & R
By Eamonn Ryan
At FRIGAIR 2025, DFFE ' s Margaret Molefi detailed South Africa ' s roadmap for phasing out global warming substances in the HVAC & R industry.
Molefi, director for Hazardous Chemicals Management at the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment( DFFE) and representing the National Ozone Unit, delivered a crucial address at FRIGAIR 2025, illuminating the process of phasing out and phasing down global warming substances and their profound implications for the South African HVAC & R industry.
Molefi began by outlining the foundational international agreements guiding this transition: the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer, which serves as a framework, and the Montreal Protocol, specifically designed to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances( ODS) such as HCFCs. A significant milestone in this journey is the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, ratified by South Africa in August 2022. This amendment, which primarily targets Hydrofluorocarbons( HFCs), mandates a significant phase-down, including a 97.5 % phase-out of R22 by 2024 – a critical deadline for the industry.
At the national level, South Africa is leveraging its legislative framework to align with these international commitments. The Air Quality Act( promulgated in 2014 and amended in 2021) is currently used to control ozone-depleting substances. For the impending HFC regulations, the recently promulgated Climate Change Act( 2024) will be the guiding legislation.
THE EMERGING CHALLENGE OF FOREVER CHEMICALS: PFAS AND TFAS Molefi introduced a new concern: the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants( POPs) which addresses harmful persistent pollutants. HFOs produce‘ Forever Chemicals’( PFAS and TFAs), a growing concern for HVAC & R.
She pointed out that TFAs are found not only in refrigerants but also in critical HVAC components like wires, cables and insulators. Consequently, the Stockholm Convention will increasingly necessitate a transition away from refrigerants containing PFAS and may lead to their restriction. Currently, South Africa is processing an amendment to the NEMA( National
Environmental Management Act) Persistent Organic Pollutants regulation, which will prohibit the production, sale, distribution, import and eventual phasing out of these substances.
The life cycle management of refrigerants is also under scrutiny. The Basel Convention now classifies waste gases as hazardous, necessitating a circular economy approach to refrigerant life cycle management( reclamation, recycling, disposal).
SOUTH AFRICA ' S GREEN HORIZON Molefi issued a strong warning regarding R22( an HCFC), which is in its final phase-out stages. She explained that South Africa is transitioning from a 67.5 % phase-out to a dramatic 97.5 % phaseout by end-2025. This drastic reduction means R22 will become extremely expensive and not cost-effective.
While reclaimed R22 will be the only available option, pilot studies have shown that extremely little can be retained through reclamation. Molefi urged anyone still using R22 to transition to alternative systems that allow for " drop-in " solutions. Her stark prediction: " within the coming two years, you may not have any R22 to work with."
The focus then shifted to the HFC phase-down under the Kigali Amendment. South Africa ratified this amendment in August 2022, placing the nation at a " freezing stage " where the baseline for HFC consumption needs to be established. The first reduction is slated for 2026.
" HFCs are used extensively across air conditioning, refrigeration, and other applications like foam blowing agents and fire suppressants."
Margaret Molefi, director for Hazardous Chemicals Management at the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment( DFFE) and representing the National Ozone Unit.
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www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I September 2025 11