By Eamonn Ryan derived from the presentation
In a presentation delivered to the SADC RAC, president Caign Manyukwa outlined the progress and challenges among member NOUs.
In a presentation delivered to the Southern African Development Community Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (SADC RAC) members, Manyukwa, reviewed progress in the phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in line with international protocols. This effort is part of a broader strategy to reduce the environmental impact of refrigerants, particularly in alignment with the Montreal Protocol and its subsequent Kigali Amendment.
“By December 2024, SADC RAC countries are committed to reducing their HCFC consumption by 60%, based on a baseline of 5 120 ozone depleting potential tons. This target has already been exceeded ahead of schedule, with the region already achieving substantial reductions. This sets a strong foundation for the target of a 67.5% reduction in HCFC consumption by 2025, which is in line with the Montreal Protocol’s objectives,” he says.
In the long-term, the SADC region is set to allow only 2.5% of HCFCs to be imported by 2026, a significant step toward the complete phase-out of HCFCs by 2030. The 2.5% import ceiling will be maintained from 2026 through to 2030, after which the goal is to eliminate HCFC consumption entirely.
Manyukwa noted that the reduction targets present significant challenges, particularly for countries that rely on neighbouring nations for access to refrigerants. He explained that, while South Africa has taken on a major role in supplying refrigerants to the region, the 2.5% import ceiling means that neighbouring countries will face limited quantities of refrigerants in the years ahead.
This restriction, while crucial for environmental protection, poses logistical and operational challenges. Manyukwa stressed the need for regional collaboration to overcome these barriers, especially in light of resource constraints and the growing demand for refrigerants in the region.
One key solution proposed to address these challenges is reclamation and recovery. Manyukwa emphasised that through intensified efforts in refrigerant recovery, SADC RAC countries can mitigate the effects of limited refrigerant supplies. By recovering and recycling refrigerants, countries can continue to maintain their refrigeration and air conditioning equipment without relying on imports of new refrigerants.
Manyukwa also shared positive updates from specific countries within the region. For example, Botswana achieved a remarkable 35% reduction in HCFC consumption by 2020. The country also made significant strides in building local capacity by training 115 technicians. Meanwhile, eSwatini has reached an impressive milestone of being 100% HCFC-free and has fully transitioned to the use of hydrocarbons as refrigerants.
However, Manyukwa cautioned that financial and technical constraints remain major hurdles for many countries in the region. As such, there is a pressing need for international support, both in terms of funding and technical expertise, to ensure that SADC nations can continue their progress toward the complete phase-out of HCFCs and HFCs.
Botswana’s achievements, challenges, and future plansThe Botswana representative shared the country’s progress and challenges in phasing out HCFCs and implementing sustainable refrigeration practices. Botswana is currently in Stage 2 of its HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP), focusing on reducing its reliance on HCFCs. As of 2020, the country achieved a 35% reduction in HCFC consumption, which is on track with its set targets. However, Botswana has not yet submitted its Kigali Implementation Plan (KIP)—a necessary step to phase down HFCs under the Kigali Amendment. The KIP is expected to be submitted by May 2025, with the delay seen as a positive development that will incorporate valuable insights from the local industry. Most of Botswana’s HCFCs are imported from South Africa and China, with South Africa being the main supplier. As South Africa has gradually reduced its HCFC imports, this has created challenges for Botswana’s industry, which relies heavily on South African refrigerants. This growing concern is one of the key challenges facing Botswana in meeting its HCFC phase-out goals. Botswana has established a strong regulatory framework to manage refrigerant imports and ensure compliance with international phase-out targets. The country operates a licensing and quota system for refrigerants, ensuring that only approved quantities are imported into the country. The Botswana National Ozone Unit (NOU) collaborates closely with South Africa and Zambia to authenticate refrigerant permits and ensure compliance, which is critical for strengthening regional efforts to meet phase-out goals. Additionally, Botswana continues to engage with various national and regional stakeholders, including the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association of Botswana (RAAB) and SADC RAC. These meetings focus on identifying further opportunities for collaboration, including consultations with customs and other government bodies to ensure compliance with international refrigerant trade regulations. As part of its long-term strategy to build capacity in the refrigeration sector, Botswana has donated training equipment to three centres of excellence in the country. These vocational training centres play a key role in preparing future technicians who will be essential in maintaining refrigeration systems and ensuring the success of the HCFC phase-out. Botswana is also planning to establish a refrigerant recovery centre, inspired by South Africa’s effective refrigerant recovery systems. The new recovery infrastructure will be complemented by the distribution of recovery units to industry players. |
Challenges faced by BotswanaWhile Botswana has made significant progress, the country faces several challenges. One of the primary obstacles is limited resources, which impact the Botswana NOU. The NOU often struggles to meet the demands of industry associations due to financial and personnel constraints. Moreover, there are instances where companies request permits for refrigerants only after the goods have arrived at the port of entry, creating delays in processing these requests. Despite these challenges, the NOU strives to expedite the process and support industry compliance as much as possible.
Looking ahead, Botswana has several key priorities:
Through these initiatives, Botswana aims to further strengthen its efforts in refrigerant management and align with regional and international commitments. The country’s active participation in regional initiatives, such as the Refrigeration Without Borders project, ensures that it remains on track with broader SADC objectives and the global effort to phase out HCFCs and HFCs |
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 phase-out 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 countryhas 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.
Training and capacity building
A core component of eSwatini’s phase-out strategy is building local capacity through training programmes for technicians. Over the past four years, more than 120 technicians have been trained to handle modern, environmentally friendly refrigerants. This initiative ensures that the workforce is preparing to meet the increasing demand for sustainable refrigeration solutions.
Despite progress, eSwatini faces challenges in providing more comprehensive training on hydrocarbon refrigerants, which require specialised handling. The NOU remains committed to addressing this gap, ensuring that technicians are fully equipped to manage these new refrigerants safely and effectively.
eSwatini’s NOU also plays a critical enforcement role through a licensing and quota system that regulates refrigerant imports. The ASYCUDA system—a customs declaration system—links importers to the NOU, enabling efficient tracking and monitoring of refrigerant imports. Collaboration between the NOU and customs authorities ensures that only legally-approved refrigerants are imported, helping to prevent illegal imports and improving data collection for reporting purposes.
eSwatini recognises the importance of regional collaboration in achieving the Kigali Amendment goals. The country has worked closely with South Africa to establish refrigerant recovery and recycling centres, an effort that is now being expanded within eSwatini. The establishment of five such centres will allow for the collection, reuse and recycling of refrigerants, thereby reducing environmental waste and supporting the country’s commitments under the Montreal Protocol.
Zambia’s efforts towards achieving Kigali amendment goals
A challenge highlighted by Zambia’s representative is the need for a more needs-based approach in supporting the refrigeration sector. While equipment donations to training centres have been a part of Zambia’s strategy, it has become evident that simply providing equipment is not enough. The country has not fully identified the specific needs of the industry, whether in terms of training, certification or specialised equipment. Zambia’s representative stressed the importance of consulting directly with stakeholders to determine what the industry truly requires, ensuring that interventions are both relevant and sustainable.
Zambia also emphasised the value of consultation meetings and stakeholder engagement. By gathering input from key players in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors, Zambia can craft more effective national and regional policies. Stakeholder discussions help ensure that interventions are based on actual industry needs rather than assumptions or generalised solutions.
As Zambia works toward the phaseout of ODSs, the need for specialised training and certifications for technicians has grown. The country is focusing on equipping its workforce with the skills to work with modern, environmentally friendly refrigerants such as hydrocarbons and low-GWP HFCs. The Zambia representative noted that alongside providing equipment to training centres, there needs to be a focus on building human capital to ensure technicians are properly trained and certified to handle these new refrigerants safely.
Zambia is also working to strengthen its NOU committee and ensure that industry associations play an active role in policy discussions. The inclusion of industry representatives ensures that decisions made at the national level reflect the real needs of the sector. Zambia’s representative also underscored the value of regional collaboration, noting that countries like Zimbabwe have implemented strategies that could be adapted by others in the region. Sharing successes and challenges is vital for collectively phasing down ODS and HFCs across Southern Africa.