Asmara, 12 February 2025 – Nearly 90 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) technicians from various regions across the country participated in a series of specialized training programs held in Asmara and Massawa, Eritrea.

The week-long programme in each city was organized by Eritrea’s Ministry of Land, Water and Environment together with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). 

Speaking on the occasion, Kibrom Asmerom Weldegebriel, Director General of the Department of Environment at Ministry of Lands, Water and Environment emphasized the need for the RAC sector to align more closely with environmental sustainability and energy efficiency principles.  He highlighted the role of refrigeration in preserving food and medicine, transporting perishable goods and supporting industrial production. Additionally, he commended the achievements under the Montreal Protocol, appreciating UNIDO’s role in supporting Eritrea.

Weldegebriel also reaffirmed Eritreas’s commitment to strengthening its partnership in other areas like climate adaptation and mitigation measures. Robel Kibrom, the National Ozone Officer, said that being an RAC technician was a great privilege with a significant responsibility of fighting climate change.  He encouraged participants to stay informed about technological advancements to enhance their skills and contribute to sustainable practices in the sector.

Alvin Tepo Togba, Associate Quality Assurance Expert, discussed UNIDO’s initiatives in Climate Innovation and the Montreal Protocol. The trainees were exposed to themes like RAC systems, refrigeration and oil chemistry, piping and tubing, counterfeit refrigerants and techniques of identification, among others. 

Eritrea, a coastal nation located by the Red Sea in the Horn of Africa, is classified as a Least Developed Country (LDC).  The country also ranks high in the United Nations’ Economic and environmental vulnerability index (EVI). Although Eritrea contributes less than 0.01% of global cumulative greenhouse gas emissions, it disproportionately suffers the impacts of climate change, particularly through severe and prolonged droughts.

In 2023, Eritrea ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, committing to gradually reducing the use of global-warming Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), primarily used in the RAC sector, by 80% over the next 20 years.

For further information please contact: 

Alois MHLANGA, 

Chief

Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol division