The
Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI) in partnership with the National
Environment Agency (NEA) recently ended a three-week training for technicians
on the UNIDO project in raising awareness on hydrocarbon and carbonoxide
management in the use of refrigerator and air conditions.
Speaking
at the closing ceremony, Mrs Jahou S. Faal, Director General of GTTI, remarked
that GTTI was fulfilling its mandate to address the mid-level manpower needs of
The Gambia.
She
divulged that in collaboration with UNIDO and NEA, it has been engaging in
series of technology transfers in the area of gases in air conditioning and
refrigeration to technicians and entrepreneurs in the Gambia economy.
She
said the Gambia Technical Training Institute as a TVET training provider in The
Gambia, has been training on refrigeration and air conditioning over the two
decades. It is carried out by the RAC unit of the engineering department which
is equipped with standard tools and equipment to carry out practical exercises
in residential and small commercial refrigeration applications.
The
promotion of national friendly gas for refrigeration and Air condition
application was part of a contact signed by the institution and UNIDO to create
awareness among entrepreneurs and technicians as they engage in commercial
applications of this gases that are ozone depletion substances, which the
project stands to discourage.
Mrs
Faal stated that the project has targeted 150 RAC technicians on the management
of hydrocarbon and carbondioxide in reducing greenhouse emissions and encourage
technicians to adopt alternatives like HCFCs.
During
the three week training, a Facebook page was created to continue the
collaboration between stakeholders in the project and also serve as a platform
in creating awareness.
Omar
S. Bah from the NEA advised the participants to make good use of the training
and utilise the alternative that they were exposed to during the training.
He
assured that NEA would always be willing to support them in all their needs,
adding that the training was in line with NEA objective to reduce greenhouse
gases that are harmful to the ozone layer.
According
to him, GTTI has also been partnering in other environment related issues like
energy efficiency projects and the introduction of renewable energy in a bid to
ensure that the environment is clean and void of pollution which is a major
environmental challenge.
“The
efforts of UNIDO is appreciated which will go a long way for entrepreneurs and
technicians as it is vibrant in our society,” he said.
He
further challenged participants to be serious and professional in their work,
adding that they should explain the harmful nature of the HC22 to their
customers and on their part, uphold their responsibility as part of contribution
to national development.
