The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to launch the Refrigeration Centre of Excellence in Kumasi to train the country’s technicians and engineers on the safe handling and application of the newly introduced refrigerant gas and hydrocarbon.
The banning of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), especially in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector, has resulted in the introduction of alternatives that have low Global Warming Potentials (GWP).
Technicians are to be specially trained to avoid fire caused by fridge and air-conditioners, as refrigerant manufacturers move towards the production of hydrocarbons.
There have been reports of fridge and air-conditioners causing fire in people’s homes and workplaces in the media.
EPA said the initiative would help to build the capacity of technicians and engineers to improve their services and ensure the adoption of low GWP.
“It also involves the establishment of small demonstration projects to promote ozone and climate safe refrigeration alternatives, as well as dissemination of information on new technologies,” Angelina Ama Tutuah Mensah, EPA Director of Public Affairs stated.
According to her, this will ultimately help reduce emission of refrigerants, improve energy efficiency and life cycle climate change impact.
The launch is scheduled to take place at Kumasi Technical Institute on Friday, March 2, 2018, Tutuah Mensah added.
It is therefore essential that each nation shifts its economic development towards a low carbon model that can sustain the economy.
The development has forced countries to transit to a low-carbon economic system.
From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi