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Environment ministry sensitises hotels on refrigerant gas pollution |30 September 2016

 

 

Hotels and other big establishments are known for contributing in the emission of refrigerant gas which helps destroy the ozone layer.

This is because of their heavy use of refrigerators, freezers, mini bars, air condition units and water heaters which need those gases in order to function. In Seychelles this is no exception as hotels contribute to 60% of the total consumption of refrigerant gas.

This is why the Ozone Unit of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change has found it necessary to organise a workshop to educate hotel technicians on the matter.

The workshop, which is also part of the Seychelles Hydro Chlorofluorocarbons Phase out Management Plan was held on Wednesday at the Coral Strand Hotel and attracted a dozen of mainly refrigeration technicians from the hotel industry.

The aim was to identify challenges and opportunities for the transition to Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) alternatives in particular refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment used within the industry.

The seminar, which was ran by local consultants Stanley Valentin and Robert Rose, included presentations on the impact of refrigerant gas on local industries; how natural refrigerants can replace pollutants like carbon dioxide and ammonia; the use of water chilled system in hotels; existing national legislations; eventual amendments to the Montreal Protocol which control the gases; and the way forward in regards to their use.

According to Mr Valentin who has conducted a survey on ODS alternatives in Seychelles, the use of refrigerant gases has considerably increased in the last 10 years. This has been due to an increase in hotel establishments, commercial buildings and domestic households as well as more demand from fishing vessels. Furthermore, he added, split units are preferred to central systems are they are cheaper, easier to maintain and more reliable.

He noted that a back-up is always needed in case of failure of a central system.

As recommendations for the future, Mr Valentin proposed that developers invest in central systems rather than split ones, import more technically favourable ODS alternatives for air conditioners and refrigeration systems and improve data recording system in order to know the exact quantity of gas they need to import.

 

 

 

 

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