The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) through its National Ozone Unit (NOU) over the weekend concluded a three-day refresher training for technicians and trainers of refrigeration and air-conditioning practitioners from Bong, Cape Mount and Grand Bassa counties.
The training, which took place at the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) on the Japanese Freeway, Paynesville, outside Monrovia is a second of a series of training for refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians organized by the EPA in conjunction with the German Agency for International Cooperation.
Recently, the EPA and the German Agency for International Cooperation concluded refresher training for refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians.
Students of the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Department at MVTC were also attracted to the training, which was the first of a series of training planned to take place across the country.
The trainings were held under the theme: “Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Techniques, Safety and Best Practices.
The training for technicians from Bong, Cape Mount 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 Focus Point on Montreal Protocol and Head of the National Ozone Unit said as Liberia prepare to enforce obligations under the Kigali Amendment it was crucial to train refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians.
Mr. Marshall disclosed the training fostered the use of new technologies, which are in line with the Kigali Amendment and strengthen 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 “Green House 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 supposed to be held last year, but didn’t happened due to COVID 19 outbreak.
Mr. Dennis told participants that the training wasn’t intended to make technicians, but rather to refresh them on new development in the sector so that they make adjustment.
For his part, the Dean of Students at MVTC, Samuel J. Moribah lauded the EPA and its National Ozone Unit for the opportunity provided the students and lecturers and other technicians of refrigeration and air-conditioning industry.
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