The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), together with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) hosted a workshop at the Protea by Marriott Hotel Midrand on 27 and 28 March. The roadshow thereafter moves to Cape Town on 30 and 31 March. This is an overview, with details of various presentations to appear in due course.
DFFE’s Margaret Molefe was Master of Ceremonies, and noted that importers and exporters of HCFCs and HFCs were soon to be locked into a system of phase down and an online application process relating to reporting requirements under the Kigali Amendment.
The workshop looked at alternatives to the phased-out refrigerants, as well as essential training on these natural refrigerants.
Natasha Kochova, project coordinator at UNIDO, presented an overview of the Kigali Agreement with its ‘freeze year’ in 2024 and stepped phase down thereafter against baselines set.
Thereafter, Gift Molokwane of the DFFE outlined South Africa’s HFCs Management Strategy and its legislative framework, followed by a review of South Africa’s HCFC and HFC consumption figures, baseline, quota allocation and management by DFFE’s Luteno Ndlovu.
The e-licensing system relating to the implementation of the HCFC and HFC under the South African Waste Information Centre (SAWIC) was presented by Jannie van der Heever.
Gerald Mutisya of the UN’s Ozone Secretariat described the data collection and new reporting requirements under the Kigali Amendment, as well as the online reporting and calculation tools.
Iqbal Sheik, a Pakistan-based international expert and consultant, provided experiences relating to regulatory compliance with respect to Data Management Procedure and reporting of HCFC phase-out and preparations for the HFC phase-down requirements.
Grant Laidlaw, head of ACRA, reviewed a number of training initiatives relating to HVAC&R infrastructure, apprenticeships, the skills development project with SIFA FC, the African Union Development Agency and KfW Development Bank.
Ole Nielsen (Chief of Unit of the Montreal Protocol) and Sorokin Yuri (project manager for SA Projects) both of UNIDO, were delayed in Germany due to transport strike action, but would be attending the Cape Town leg. In their stead, Natasha Kochova of UNIDO presented the current HFC alternatives (low-GWP refrigeration options) and global trends.
Dr Theo Covary of UNDP presented the South African National Cooling Action Plan funded by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme.
Samuel Jacobs presented on the energy efficiency advantages of new non-HFC alternative refrigerants and technologies and the key elements of the demonstration project. Dawie Kriel gave an update on the demonstration project, being an overview of the four beneficiaries and technology applications.
Lancelot Riyano and Langa Jele of the NRCS outlined SADC Regional Harmonisation of Minimum Energy Performance Standards for refrigeration appliances and air conditioners.
James Allan, business manager at Afrox, briefed the workshop on refrigerant reclamation: the background of reclamation, its importance, successes, achievements and challenges.
Elizabeth Masekoameng of Zabcor described a feasibility study recently conducted on banning disposable cylinders and the business case for local manufacturing of refillable cylinders for ozone depleting and global warming refrigerants.
Jeremia Sibande of DFFE Policy, reviewed compliance initiatives relating to the waste management strategy as it applies to reclamation, recycling, disposal and destruction of refrigerants and air conditioners.
The workshop thereafter adjourned.