The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA), through its National Ozone Unit (NOU) and in conjunction with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) over the weekend, concluded a series of refrigeration and air-conditioning technician training workshops under the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase out Management Plan (HPMP).
The training workshops were held under the theme: “Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Techniques, Safety and Best Practices”.
The workshops were held at the Monrovia Vocational Center (MVTC), Somalia Drive, Paynesville, with participants from Bong, Cape Mount, Grand Bassa and Montserrado Counties.
The training for technicians from Bong, Cape Mount, Montserrado and Grand Bassa counties considered several topics including ‘Emphasis on the Safe Handling of Hydrocarbon Refrigerants’, ‘Focus on Practical Learning and Hands on Training’, ‘Proper Brazing Techniques and System Leak Prevention’.
Speaking at the start of the training, Seta Marshall, National Focal Point for the Montreal Protocol and Head of the National Ozone Unit said as Liberia prepares to enforce obligations under the Kigali Amendment it was crucial to train refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians in “Good Refrigeration practices”.
Mr. Marshall disclosed the training fostered the use of new technologies, which is in line with the Kigali Amendment and strengthened capacities in their safe use.
Liberia is a Party to the Vienna Convention, which gave birth to the “Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer”.
Liberia has ratified the Montreal Protocol and all of its amendments, including the Kigali Amendment which was ratified on July 12, 2020.
The Montreal Protocol, according to Mr. Marshall, is a landmark agreement that identified the major ozone depleting chemicals and established a timetable for their eventual phase out.
“Under this protocol, the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODS) is to be reduced and eventually eliminated through the development of chemical substitutes and alternative manufacturing processes,” Mr. Marshall said.
On 15th October 2016, following seven years of intensive negotiations, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer finally reached an historic agreement at their 28th Meeting of the Parties (MOP) held in Kigali, Rwanda, to phase down production and consumption of a list 18 Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Mr. Marshall disclosed that HFCs are commonly used alternatives to ozone depleting substances in the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry.
“HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer, but they are portent “Greenhouse Gases” (GHGs) with high Global Warming Potentials (GWPs) ranging from 12 to 14,800,” Mr. Marshall explained.
Prior to him, Charles Dennis, Assistant Head of the National Ozone Unit disclosed that the workshop was in continuations of a workshop that was supposed to be held last year, but didn’t happen due to COVID 19 outbreak.
Mr. Charles H. Dennis, assistant Ozone Officer, told participants that the training wasn’t intended to make technicians, but rather to refresh them on new developments in the sector so that they make adjustments.
For his part, the Dean of Students at MVTC, Samuel J. Moribah lauded the EPA and its National Ozone Unit for the opportunity provided to the technicians of the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry.
A facilitator doing a presentation