Executive
Director of the National Environment Agency (NEA) has called on refrigeration
technicians within Central River Region to be committed and redouble their
efforts against the rapid depletion of the ozone layer as 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 replace the ones that are not
only Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) but are potent greenhouse gases that
contribute to the warming of the earth.
Dodou
Trawally revealed that tools and equipment that technicians use is to recover
refrigeration that do not only deplete the Ozone layer but contribute to the
warming of the earth that can result to dire consequences like the melting of
polar ice and subsequent flooding of our homes and agricultural land. He told
participants that at the end of the training, they would be introduced and
exposed to alternatives like Hydrocarbon 290 for air conditioning systems and
natural refrigerants like CO2, water, etc. as oppose to those refrigerants that
contribute to the warming of the earth.
NEA
boss made this disclosure during the official opening ceremony of a four day
training workshop for refrigeration and air conditioning technicians within
Central River Region on the use of tools and equipment, new innovations in the
refrigeration and air conditioning subsector, and safety use of flammable
refrigeration held at the Governor’s office in Janjanbureh.
“The
challenge we now face is the lack of alternatives and as technicians you should
encourage the importers of refrigerants to start importing the alternatives to
Hydro-Chloro-Flouro-Carbons (HCFCs) so that the Gambia can meet the 2030
phase-out target.” Dodou pointed out, reiterating that we have to face the
challenges together and holistically for the fact that the cost involve in
converting to ozone friendly refrigerants cannot be carried out by the
government alone but by all relevant stakeholders.
Calling
on the public in general and technicians in particular to play positive role,
Dodou Trawalley further disclosed that “All of us have a role to play in
reducing the production and consumption of such refrigerants that are
threatening our survival and our very existence on earth. As technicians and
major stakeholders in the servicing sector, you should encourage end-users to
convert to Ozone friendly refrigerants which is now available in our markets
and can be used in our air conditioning systems. Importers also need to support
us by importing such alternatives to gradually phase out the said
refrigerants”.
As
Article five (Parties) countries, he said it is important to note that we have
to 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 have to be committed in ensuring that new technologies are
adopted for a cleaner environment. This, he said is a challenge all of us have
to face, but with some political support from Government and donor partners
like the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) we are
assured of compliance.
In
his welcoming remarks, the Deputy Governor of CRR Omar Sey, buttressed that
this training is timely as environmental issues are currently on top of the
global agenda. Describing technicians as the greatest stakeholders in the front
line in the fight against Ozone Depleting Substances, Deputy Governor revealed
that refrigerants that contribute to the warming of the earth or a potential
contributor to greenhouse gas should not be used by the technicians. This is
more of a reason why the need to build your capacities in alternative
technologies and innovations in the refrigeration and air conditioning
industry.
He
further thanked the NEA for bringing an answer to such a laudable training
needs to his Region of which he and the Governor Alh. Abba Sanyany appreciated.
“Some of you have already attended similar training programmes but you still
need to know that new technologies are emerging and alternative refrigerants
are also being introduced and tested in our markets. Your customers including
us would count on you on the safety use of such refrigerant as some of them are
highly flammable” He jagged.
