KABUL, 4 October 2018 – An important milestone has been reached today in a United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) project in Afghanistan focusing on the phase out of ozone-depleting substances – hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) – in the country, as two key stakeholders signed an agreement which will facilitate the training of thousands of technicians working in the refrigerator and air conditioner services sector on how to handle climate friendly but flammable substances.

 

The agreement signed between Schah Zaman Maiwandi, Director General of National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA) and Faizullah Zaki, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs will, among others, enable the transfer of equipment to the Afghan Korea Vocational Institute.

 

“This action can be counted as a first step in the beginning of more and serious activity towards standardization of both the refrigerator and air conditioner and license distributing system services,” said Maiwandi. “Moreover, assistance with new equipment and tools from NEPA to the Afghan Korea Institute via the HPMP project is an intensification of this process.”

 

Under the Montreal Protocol, Afghanistan is committed to reducing its use of HCFCs by 35 per cent of by 2020 and 67.5 per cent by 2025. HCFCs are mostly used in refrigerant factories during the production of refrigerator and air conditioner systems. While alternative refrigerants are available, there is a need to equip technicians – which account for more than 5000 in the sector in Afghanistan – with the necessary skills and knowledge so they can safely and efficiently replace the old refrigerants with the new ones.

 

With funds from Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, UNIDO is supporting the government of Afghanistan in providing training and standardization of the refrigerator and air conditioner services sector and introduce new ozone- and climate-friendly technologies. The program will, among others, establish a licensing system for the refrigerator and air conditioner services sector in order to monitor and determine competency of technicians, staff and personnel of the sector.

 

“This agreement paved a path for the young Afghan trainees to safely handle the flammable substances while acquiring technical skills needed for starting up their own service shops. The trained technicians are expected to contribute to improving the energy efficiency of equipment needed for creating comfortable working environment and maintaining cold chains and related trade infrastructure,” said Fukuya Iino, UNIDO Project Manager.

 

The upgrading of the vocational training facilities and the service sector for refrigerant equipment not only helps the country reach the goals of the Montreal Protocol but also promotes energy efficiency, green business, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Much of UNIDO’s work related to the Montreal Protocol has occurred in the refrigerator and air condition sector, with more than 450 projects in 61 countries to date.

 

Find out more about the our work related to the Montreal Protocol here

Publication – UNIDO and the Montreal Protocol

 

 

For more information, please contact:

Fukuya Iino

Industrial Development Officer

Montreal Protocol Division

Email

 

 

Mohammadshakir Majeedi

UNIDO Country Representative

UNIDO Afghanistan Office

Email