By: Sheikh Alkinky Sanyang
The Governor of NBR has task regional refrigeration and air condition technicians to live up to expectation in the execution of their duties as the stakeholders in the fight against the consumption and emission of controlled refrigerants like hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) which do not only deplete the Ozone layer but contribute to the warming of the earth.
Governor Ebrima Dampha make these remarks at the opening of a four day training workshop on Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), flammability and safety, currently under way at Farafenni, NBR. He challenged them to exercise professionalism as any little mistake will cost both human health and the environment direly.
This training, he said is very important and timely as environmental issues are currently on top of the global agenda while the holy month of Ramadan is also fast approaching when their services are urgently needed.
He therefore caution both users and technicians to avoid using refrigerants that have ozone depletion potentials that are used in our offices, fish processing factories, homes, etc. I hope by the end of day four of the training you would have been equipped to control the types of refrigerants you use during servicing of your refrigeration and air conditioning units.
In his part, the Director od Administration and Finance Muhammed Denton told the participants that the training work shop has come at a time when the refrigeration and air conditioning subsector is experiencing a lot of transformation in terms of technology and the introduction of new refrigerants in a bid to replacing the ones that are not only Ozone Depleting Substances but are potent greenhouse gases that contribute to the warming of the earth. They are also termed greenhouse gases.
He buttressed that it is important to note that gases like Hydro Chloro Fluoro Carbons (HCFCs), and Hydro Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) like refrigerant 22 and HFCs used mainly in our air conditioning systems and fish processing factories do not only deplete the Ozone layer but contribute to global warming consequences of which we are currently experiencing in the form of heavy winds, heat waves, extreme cold seasons as in Europe and other parts of the world, sea level rise resulting to coastal erosion and inundation to name but a few.
“All of us here present have a role to play in reducing the production and consumption of such refrigerants threatening our survival and our very existence on earth. As technicians and major stake holders in the servicing sector we should encourage end users to convert to Ozone friendly refrigerants like 290 which is now available in our market and can be used in our air conditioning systems”. Denton requested.
Adding on, he said importers also need to support by importing such alternatives to gradually phase out the said refrigerants, and this will ensure our compliance to the Montreal protocol obligations on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer and sometimes contribute to the warming of the earth.
As Article five parties, Denton disclosed that we should adjust to the compliance requirements of the international agreements like the Vienna and the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, and we therefore have to be committed in ensuring that new technologies are adopted for a cleaner environment.
“This is a challenge all of us have to face. With some political support from Government and donor partners like the United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Industrial Development Organization and Global environment Facility we are assured of compliance as article five countries”. NEA`s Director of Administration revealed.
He cautioned participants that some of the alternative refrigerants going to be discussed during the training are flammable making the training and the ones to come to concentrate more on safety and handling. He concluded by thanking the United Nations Industrial Development Organization for providing us with funds to conduct this training and many more to come.
Alhagie Sarr, Co-cordinator of the project revealed that this technicians training is one of six trainings approved by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and this is the third one we are starting today. He said the introduction of new refrigerants that are already here in the Gambia needs technical knowhow to handle them due to their flammability even though they are Ozone and climate friendly and energy efficient compared to HCFCs. During the four day training, Sarr said discussions will be on retrofitting, safety measures to avoid accidents, placement of working equipment, lack of emergency exit, Lack of fire extinguishers.
The Gambia like other article five parties is committed to the obligations of the Montreal protocol in phasing out HCFCs, a major refrigerant currently used in both domestic and industrial refrigeration till 2030.This is a major challenge considering the time.
Once phased out, Sarr warned that we need to be vigilant to ensure that they are not re-introduced into our servicing sector in the form of blends or disguised with labels that are Ozone and climate friendly. It is also important to note that refrigerants like HFCs used mainly in our fish processing factories warm the earth.
He concluded by appealing to the technicians to support by working together to preserve and protect the Ozone Layer and also regulate the consumption of refrigerants that contribute to the warming up of our planet