Ministry acts to protect ozone layer

The Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade is working closely with customs officials to ensure that Namibians import the right refrigerations and air conditioners, and that the ministry and vocational training centres (VTCs) support value chains that import the right appliances.

This was said by deputy executive director for industrial development Michael Humavindu on Friday, when he handed over a donation of 16 green air conditioners valued at N$216 775 to the Windhoek VTC.

He said the purpose of the donation is to promote the sustainable use of green energy-efficient appliances, as the sector is moving away from greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate pollution and to protect the ozone layer.

The donation, made through the National Ozone Unit with assistance from the GIZ Proklima, further aims to capacitate technicians through training in the safe handling of these new technological devices.

“Therefore, focusing on energy efficiency standards, safety standards, energy and safety testing requirements, and good practices in installation and maintenance is very important in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector,” he said.

A green air conditioner, in contrast to a conventional one, has no ozone-depleting potential or global warming potential, reduces energy consumption by up to 5 000 kWh over its lifetime which causes significant cost reductions for both consumers and the government, and is set to be the game changer for the air conditioning industry.

The green air conditioners are part of equipment donated by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to the ministry in December last year.

GIZ has been cooperating with Namibia in the implementation of technical projects for ozone protection under the Montreal Protocol since 1998.

Windhoek VTC manager Polli Andima, who received the donation on behalf of the centres, thanked the ministry for the donation and said VTC technicians and trainees will be trained on how to install and ensure proper maintenance of the appliances, as well as utilise them responsibly.

He said the 16 air conditioners will be distributed and installed at the Valombola, Gobabis, Arandis and Windhoek VTCs, which will each get four units.
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