The National Ozone Unit (NOU) tasked with the implementation and roll out of the National Hydrofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) continued its efforts to support the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector and the public to use alternatives and adopt ozone friendly practices. Over the period January - March, 2016, these activities included:  

•  Technology transfer: The NOU distributed hydrocarbon leak detectors to local air condition and refrigeration technicians. Hydrocarbon has been identified as a viable alternative to the ozone depleting refigerant; HCFCs in the RAC sector. 

•  Regulation of HCFCs: In accordance with the HPMP, quotas were given to eleven (11) local companies to import the R22, R123 refrigerants and their blends. By law, all imports of refrigerant and equipment containing refrigerant require a license from the Trade Licensing Unit of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

• Training: The United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNEP ROLAC) conducted a mission to Trinidad and Tobago. This mission was to facilitate a project which included a training session designed to encourage the use of alternatives to methyl bromide (MB) in this country, and to strengthen the capacity of the fumigation sector to use these alternatives.

• School Awareness Programme: the NOU in an effort to sensitise the public about the ozone layer, its depletion and current initiatives of the NOU as well as how to protect themselves against UV rays, participated in environmental events in schools specifically the Bishop Anstey High School and Trinity East High School's Sustainability Fair and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Primary School's Materials and Energy Conservation Day. In addition, the NOU conducted sensitisation sessions at ASJA Girls and Bishop Anstey High School, Port of Spain.

 

 

NOU Staff engage with students at the Bishop Anstey and Trinity East  Sustainability Fair 

Children of the UWI Primary School thoroughly engrossed in with the presentation by the NOU/EPPD staff.

Ms. Neera Singh,  Ozone Assistant, with students of ASJA Girls after  her presentation on ozone depletion.

For more information on the NOU's activities, visit nou-tt.blogspot.com.

Caribbean Thematic Workshop on Enabling National Conditions for the Adoption of Standards in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Sector

The United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean  (UNEP ROLAC) hosted the Workshop on Enabling National Conditions for the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Sector during the period  October 14 - 16, 2014 in Panama City, Panama.

The Caribbean Region was represented by delegations from Antigua and Barbuda, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago. The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was represented at this three (3) day Workshop by Mr. Javed Lakhan,  Environmental Policy Analyst, Environmental Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of Environment and  Water Resources.

The meeting focused on the sharing of experiences among Caribbean countries with respect to the formulation and  adoption of National Standards in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Sector, in the context of the Montreal Protocol and each country’s Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-Out Management Plan (HPMP). Other important issues discussed included the drafting and adoption of regional standards in the RAC sector as well as which countries would take the lead in formulation of these regional standards.

Overall the workshop was very productive, in that, it laid the foundation for considerable progress to be made in terms of collaboration between Caribbean and Latin American countries in creating, adapting, adopting and implementing proper standards within the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Sector.

 

Establishment of the Montreal Protocol Cabinet Appointed Committee

As of  February, 2014, a Cabinet Appointed Committee was established to guide the  implementation of the Montreal Protocol in Trinidad and Tobago. 

Led by the National Ozone Unit of the Environmental Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of the Environment and Water  Resources, the Committee consists of  representatives from the: 

• Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS)
•  Environmental Management Authority (EMA)
•  Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association (ARIA) 
•  Ministry of Legal Affairs 
•  Ministry of Trade 
•  Trade Licensing Unit, Ministry of Health 
• Chemistry Food and Drugs Division and Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Food Production 
•  Customs and Excise Division of the Ministry of Finance and The Economy 
•  Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs and the Tobago House of Assembly 

 

The Committee is charged with the responsibility to guide and provide oversight for the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase out Management Plan (HPMP) in Trinidad and Tobago. The phase out involves the reduction of imports and consumption of these ozone depleting chemicals through a phased approach.  

It is also charged with the responsibility to provide input on the HPMP activities including legislation, standards, public awareness  initiatives and training in new alternatives in the that are both Ozone and Climate  friendly to benefit stakeholders. The  refrigeration and air conditioning sector, the  fumigation sector and the foam manufacturing sector are the primary stakeholders in this phase out.

 

Meeting of the English Speaking Caribbean and Haiti Ozone Officers

The United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNEP ROLAC) along with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis hosted the Meeting of the English Speaking Caribbean Ozone Officers held during the period March 18-21, 2013 in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Dr. Marissa Gowrie; the National Ozone Officer and Ms. Neera Singh, Ozone Assistant both from the National Ozone Unit (NOU); Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Representatives from the UNEP OzonAction ROLAC and Paris Office, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and national stakeholders from St. Kitts and Nevis were also present.

The meeting focused on:

• Major decisions coming of the 24th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and the Compliance Status of the Montreal Protocol in the Caribbean Network 
• Major issues addressed in the 23rd Meeting of the Open Ended Working Group of the Montreal Protocol
• Recent decisions of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund Secretariat and the implications for the Caribbean Region
• Certifications and licensing systems  for technicians (case study on a system set up by the Belize Ozone Unit)
• Graduate level course on the Management of Ozone Depleting Substances in progress to be implemented at the University of the West Indies and its benefits to the Caribbean region
• Implementation of the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase Out Management Plans (HPMPs)

This forum provided a distinct opportunity for the English Speaking Caribbean and Haitian Ozone Officers to share and learn from each others' experiences.
 

Hydrocarbon Sensitisation Training

The National Ozone Unit comprising Dr Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) and Ms Neera Singh (Ozone Officer) held Hydrocarbon Sensitisation Training sessions over the month of August 2012. 

The dates and venues of the sessions included:

• August 6th and 10th, El Sororro
• August 7th, Macoya
• August 8th, Couva
• August 27th, San Fernando
• August 30th, Tobago 

A key obligation of Trinidad and Tobago under the Montreal Protocol is the phase-out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). To facilitate the phase out, the refrigeration and air conditioning sector needs to be properly trained in alternative refrigerants. This is set out in the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP)  for Trinidad and Tobago.

One of the alternative refrigerants currently being explored is hydrocarbon, which is considered to be a green refrigerant. It is non-ozone depleting and has a low global warming potential (GWP). However, hydrocarbon is a flammable substance and therefore, proper training is required for technicians to safely work with the refrigerant.

The sessions served to build awareness of the importance of training service technicians in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry to work with hydrocarbon systems. Mr Ruben Marchand (Hydrocarbon Expert) and Mr Vernon Ramjattan (School of Practical Air-Conditioning) were the trainers for the sessions. Stemming from these sessions, the way forward will be to begin training technicians to service systems utilising hydrocarbon as a refrigerant.                                                                                      

Dr Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) speaking at the Tobago Session

Technicians at the Hydrocarbon Sensitisation Session in San Fernando

Ozone Awareness at ABS

The National Ozone Unit (NOU) continues its education of the air conditioning and refrigeration sector on the Montreal Protocol and the impending phase out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) scheduled to begin in January 2013, through its lectures and outreach activities. 

The NOU most recently conducted training and awareness raising at Abel Building Solutions (ABS) at its Mount Hope Offices for the entire engineering department including senior staff, technical professionals and procurement officers.

Attendees were informed about the phase out targets for HCFC as well as the elements of the HCFC Phase out Management Plan (HPMP) which include equipment provision, further training in good refrigeration practices, retrofitting of equipment, and the establishment of a certification programme for technicians. 

To learn more about ABS, you can visit the company's website.

From L-R: Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer), Mr. Adam Sabga (General Manager; ABS ) and Mr. Winfield Clamens (one of the founders the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association)